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      George Mason University

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      George Mason University reviews

      4.3

      83% would recommend to a friend

      (2,277 total reviews)
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      Gregory Washington

      81% approve of CEO

      56% positive business outlook

      Ratings by category

      4.5

      Diversity & inclusion

      4.3

      Work/Life balance

      4.1

      Culture & values

      3.8

      Senior management

      3.7

      Career opportunities

      3.5

      Compensation and benefits

      George Mason University has an employee rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, based on 2,277 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The George Mason University employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Education industry (3.7 stars).

      Ratings by demographic groups

      Reviews by job title

      2K reviews
      4.0
      Jun 28, 2018

      Great Place to Work, Terrible Pay

      Associate director
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      I absolutely love working at George Mason University. It will be near impossible to find another job opportunity that matches the benefits of Mason. There are opportunities to telework, have a decent work/life balance, and excellent time off. My colleagues are wonderful and I enjoy coming to work every day.

      Cons

      Mason is the largest institution in the state of Virginia, but it is one of the lowest paying institutions. There are other institutions in the state where people are making $10k - $20k more than what Mason pays in the exact same job and they are located in a place with lower cost of living. Living in DC is extremely expensive, so if you are a single individual, there is no way you could afford to live on the tiny Mason salary in the DC area unless you have family or friends you can live with. I've noticed most people who stay at Mason longer than 3 years have partners/spouses/significant others because you need a two-person income to work at Mason and live in DC simultaneously.

      4.0
      Mar 24, 2015

      A big school, but can be a great environment once you find your place in it.

      Administrative and office specialist iii
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      I've worked at Mason in 3 different administrative positions for the last 15 years, so clearly I enjoy it here. This is a big, bustling campus, which is invigorating if you like that kind of energy. The population can be a mixed bag, but there are great people here, from dedicated faculty and staff to bright, engaged students. It can feel overwhelming to be one tiny component of a giant organization, the trick is to focus on your immediate community and concentrate on the impact you can make there. The benefits are good, and really the main reason I think people gravitate towards the university. The luxury of having 2 weeks paid vacation during the holidays can not be overstated. It can be hard to break into the field here, as I have experience hiring staff and each position can receive hundreds of applicants. Once you're in, you can feel secure in your job and have an advantage applying for future positions within the university. Full-time employees can take 12 credits a year at no cost. This is amazing if you're looking to finish/continue with your education, and the reason I initially sought employment here. There are tons of resources here, everything from fitness centers, public transportation, professional development courses, workshops, conferences, theater performances...there are so many more opportunities outside of your 9-5pm job commitments.

      Cons

      This isn't a place where aggressively career minded people can expect to climb the ladder. You come here for the security, not the potential for advancement. People tend to get entrenched in their jobs, in my experience the number one source of turnover is retirement. If you're looking to move up, the most efficient method seems to be by making small title increases moving from department to department. Raises aren't really a thing. We occasionally get cost of living increases, that's about it. Traffic in this area is awful. Some days I get here in 25 minutes, other days it takes me an hour or more. It's hard to predict your commute time. Northern Virginia is an expensive region to reside in. Mason pays well for the area, but even so, unless you're a Dean or a Vice President or something I wouldn't take a job here with the expectation of buying a summer home. With a school this large you can expect a lot of bureaucracy. Trying to get something done can often times require consulting with several other departments you had no idea even existed. Parking is limited.

      Viewing 10 - 12 of 2,277 Reviews
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      ReviewsGeorge Mason University reviews

      Glassdoor has 2,534 George Mason University reviews submitted anonymously by George Mason University employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if George Mason University is right for you.