How to Apply to Engineering at George Mason University: Seven Engineering BS Programs in the Volgenau School of Engineering, Direct Admission Only If You Meet the Math Conditions and CEC Undeclared Otherwise, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

George Mason University is in Fairfax, Virginia. Undergraduate engineering is offered by the Volgenau School of Engineering, part of the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC). Computer science sits in the college’s School of Computing and has its own guide on this site, so it is not covered here. Based on George Mason’s official information, this guide is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students.

1. Engineering majors

• Bachelor of Science programs listed in the catalog: Bioengineering, Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, Computer Engineering, Cyber Security Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Systems and Industrial Engineering (seven). The Volgenau undergraduate programs page lists six and omits Computer Engineering as a bachelor’s program (it does appear among accelerated master’s pathways), so the two sources differ; confirm with the school.
• ABET accreditation (catalog program pages): Bioengineering, Civil and Infrastructure, Computer, Cyber Security, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering each state accreditation by ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission. The Systems and Industrial Engineering catalog page does not state accreditation; ask the department.
• Total credits (catalog): Mechanical 121; Bioengineering 122–134 depending on track; Civil and Infrastructure 123–125; Computer 126; Cyber Security 126; Electrical at least 121; Systems and Industrial 123.
• Example curriculum: Mechanical Engineering math and science include Calculus I–III, differential equations, one chemistry course with lab and University Physics I and II with labs; the major includes statics, solid mechanics, thermodynamics, dynamics and fluid mechanics. All required math, science and CEC courses need a C or better.
• Accelerated master’s (BAM): several engineering majors have bachelor’s/accelerated master’s pathways, open after 60 credits with the GPA each page states (for example 3.0 in Bioengineering), with up to 18 graduate credits at the undergraduate tuition rate.
• Internships and co-op: the Mechanical Engineering catalog lists an internship course (ME 395) that can count toward technical electives. The pages we read do not describe a paid co-op program for engineering; ask the CEC undergraduate office (cecugrad@gmu.edu).

2. Admission: direct to a major or CEC Undeclared

• Choosing a major when you apply: George Mason says admission to the university and to a major is usually simultaneous, but Computer Science and Engineering majors are selective.
• Direct admission (selective majors page): four years of high school math, including one course more advanced than Algebra II, and one of:
  • at least 550 SAT Math or 24 ACT Math;
  • grades of B or higher (not B-) in all high school math courses through Algebra II.
• If you do not meet them: applicants admitted to the university but not meeting these conditions are placed temporarily in CEC Undeclared and can declare a CEC major once they meet that major’s requirements.
• Applying score optional: the score-optional and international freshman pages say Computer Science and Engineering applicants without SAT/ACT will be considered if they have four years of high school math (one beyond Algebra II by senior year) with all math courses at B or higher. “All math courses” differs from “through Algebra II” on the selective majors page; both are quoted as written.
• CEC Undecided: students unsure which engineering major to pick can choose “CEC Undecided Engineering” after enrolling and are advised to take early courses that fit several majors.

3. Changing majors and moving into engineering

• First semester: freshmen admitted to any CEC engineering or computer science program may change to any other such program before the final drop deadline of the first semester. Freshmen admitted to Information Technology, Statistics, CEC Undeclared, CEC Undecided or a non-CEC major need department approval to move into a CEC program.
• After one semester at Mason: meet with the CEC Undeclared and Undecided advisors; earn at least a C in MATH 114, PHYS 160 and PHYS 161; hold at least a 2.75 Mason GPA in technical coursework (applicable math, physics, engineering, statistics and computer science), with at least 6 of those credits completed at Mason. Bioengineering with a Pre-Health concentration needs a 3.00 and Systems and Industrial Engineering a 2.5. Exceptions are at the department chair’s or associate chair’s discretion.
• Attempts: required math, science and CEC courses may be attempted at most three times; students who do not pass within three attempts are terminated from the major. Bioengineering also requires a B- or better in MATH 114 and MATH 214 as prerequisites for some courses.

4. Prerequisites and exam credit

• High school courses: for engineering, the pages we read state only the math condition: four years of math including one course beyond Algebra II. Whether high school physics or chemistry is required is not stated; ask Admissions (admissions@gmu.edu).
• AP credit (credit-by-exam table): Calculus AB 4 or 5 earns MATH 113; Calculus BC 4 or 5 earns MATH 113 and 114; Chemistry 4 or 5 earns CHEM 211 and 213; Physics C Mechanics 4 or 5 earns PHYS 160 and 161; Physics C Electricity and Magnetism 4 or 5 earns PHYS 260 and 261. Check your major’s catalog on whether the credit applies. The exam credit page also covers IB, A-level and other exams.

5. Deadlines, materials and testing (first-year)

• Early Action (non-binding): 1 November, with priority for the Honors College, University Scholars and merit scholarships.
• Regular Decision: 1 February; the final fall deadline for international applicants is 1 June. Spring priority deadline is 1 October. The deadlines page does not show a year, so check again before you submit.
• Application fee: $75; fee waivers may be available.
• Materials: Common App or Mason’s own application; official transcripts from all secondary schools; two recommended letters (counselor and teacher); an optional but strongly encouraged statement of about 250 words; a resume if you have gaps in enrollment. No separate engineering essay is listed, and other engineering-specific materials are not published.
• Testing: optional; if you submit scores, self-reported results are used. Mason says it accepts almost 90% of applicants, and for score-optional applicants the middle 50% of accepted students have weighted GPAs of 3.3–3.9 (grades 9–11).

6. U.S. domestic applicants

• 2026-27 tuition: about $14,807 a year in-state and $39,803 out-of-state for full-time undergraduates (12–15 credits per semester). On-campus food and housing is $15,020, transportation $1,380, personal expenses $2,384 and books $1,380; there is a one-time $350 new-student fee for freshmen. The cost page lists no engineering differential, only that several courses charge extra course or lab fees.
• Aid: submit the FAFSA or Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application by 1 March for priority consideration for limited state and institutional grants. Applying by 1 November also gives priority for the Honors College and merit scholarships.
• Priority or guaranteed admission for Virginia residents: not stated on the freshman pages we read.

7. International applicants

• Materials: application and fee; official transcripts from all secondary schools plus results of any leaving certificates or university entrance exams, with certified English translations; English proficiency; two recommended letters. The pages we read do not list proof-of-funds documents; check the international student office pages.
• English (CEC applicants): IELTS 6.5 with no subscore minimum, or TOEFL 4.5 (80 for tests before 21 January 2026) with no subscore minimum. Other university minimums include Duolingo 110, PTE 59, SAT Reading and Writing 500, ACT English and Reading 20 and IB HL English A 6. Scores must be within two years.
• Waivers: graduates of IB or UK-curriculum schools with four years of college-preparatory English at C or 4 or better (from fall 2026 applicants); four years at an English-medium school in a waiver-eligible country (the list includes the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada excluding Quebec; China is not on it); or four years at an accredited U.S. high school.
• Scholarships: non-U.S. citizens are not eligible for federal aid. Mason offers a limited number of merit scholarships to highly qualified international freshmen and transfer students; all admitted applicants are considered automatically, renewable up to four years for freshmen and two for transfers.

8. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the international freshman page asks for official results of any university entrance exams taken, but no Gaokao score requirement or use is published.
• Documents: transcripts from every secondary school; non-English documents need a certified English translation. We did not find a China-specific country page, interview or named credential evaluator for freshmen.
• Math: meet the four-year math conditions in section 2; without test scores, all math courses need a B or higher.
• International curricula: A-level and IB students may qualify for the English waiver as above. No A-level or IB score requirements for engineering are published.

9. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall 1 March, spring 1 October; later applications are reviewed if space is available.
• General requirements: competitive applicants have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5, 24 earned semester credits, English composition equivalent to ENGH 101 and college-level math; with fewer than 24 credits you must meet both freshman and transfer requirements and send a high school transcript.
• Engineering prerequisites: transfer applicants to Bioengineering, Civil and Infrastructure, Computer, Cyber Security, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering must have completed the equivalents of MATH 113 Calculus I (4 credits) and MATH 114 Calculus II (4 credits) with an A or B in each; Systems and Industrial Engineering accepts an A, B or C. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the major.
• International transfer: coursework outside the U.S. needs a course-by-course evaluation with GPA and degree equivalencies from WES, ECE, Educational Perspectives, TEC, IEE or another NACES member, at the student’s cost, plus an optional but encouraged essay.
• Transfer credit: use Mason’s transfer credit matrix, and confirm with the school which courses count toward your engineering major.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Four years of high school math including one beyond Algebra II; 550 SAT Math or 24 ACT Math, or B or higher in all math through Algebra II
• Apply by 1 November (Early Action) or 1 February (Regular), $75 fee; file the FAFSA by 1 March

International applicants (including China):

• Apply by 1 November or 1 February (final fall deadline 1 June); CEC needs IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 4.5
• Translate transcripts and exam results; ask Admissions how the Gaokao is used

Transfer students:

• Apply by 1 March for fall; finish Calculus I and II with an A or B first; get a course-by-course evaluation for foreign coursework

Sources: George Mason University, Volgenau School of Engineering undergraduate programs; Engineering undergraduate admissions; Catalog: College of Engineering and Computing (incl. change of major); Catalog: Mechanical Engineering; Catalog: Bioengineering; Selective majors; Score optional; Freshman requirements; International freshman requirements; Freshman deadlines; Apply as a freshman and application fee; Credit by exam; English language requirements; International financial aid; 2026-27 cost of attendance; Transfer requirements; Selective transfer majors; International transfer requirements; Transfer deadlines. Degree requirements follow the 2026-2027 catalog and costs are 2026-27 rates; the deadlines pages show no year. Check George Mason for the latest details.