Frequently Asked Questions
Bookstore & Patriot Tech
Yes, all required course materials will be available in the bookstore. We have new, used, rentals, and digital books.
Visit the Bookstore Find Course Materials page, enter your class schedule, and you will be provided with a list of required and recommended items.
Digital books are available, but not for every course. The cost will vary from book to book. Digital books can be available for rental or purchase. Rentals are usually only accessible for 120 to 180 days. The rental period starts from the day you purchase.
Textbook rentals are available but not for every book. There is a cost to rent, and it will vary from book to book. We do require a credit card to be on file in case the rental is not returned at the end of the semester. Students will be charged a replacement fee for any books not returned.
We also have a textbook sell-back program, where you may receive up to 50% cash back based on textbook conditions.
Student employees get a discount on textbooks and merchandise.
No, however, we have Apple Care and extended warranty products available for purchase. Visit us at Johnson Center, next to the Information Desk for more details.
Our laptops are educationally priced. Pricing varies by device and brand. Check with our associates for ongoing sales and promotions.
There are no restrictions. We work closely with the departments to provide computer products that meet the hardware and equipment requirements for students studying computer science, IT, or related fields.
Dining & Meal Plans
Yes, off-campus students can purchase any meal plan, but we recommend the Freedom and Patriot plans.
Bonus Funds and Freedom Funds are tax-exempt, so you save 6% by spending with them versus a credit or debit card. They can be spent at any retail dining location on campus, such as Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, The Halal Guys, Panera Bread, Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts, Blaze Pizza, and more!
For freshmen living on campus, the difference among the independence plan options is how many Bonus Funds you anticipate spending.
Overall, our meal plans are built based on different lifestyles and preferences. Some are smaller, fitting the commuter lifestyle, and others are abundant for those living on campus with no kitchen access.
Take our dining meal plan quiz to find out what’s the best meal plan for you.
Yes! Just download our Everyday app to see:
- Nutritional info
- Filter options by allergies and preferences
- Location-specific options
The dining hall at-door price is listed below:
- Breakfast – $10
- Lunch – $11.50
- Dinner $12.50
With a meal plan, you can save up to 20% per meal cost depending on the meal plan options.
You may select/change your meal plan at the Online Mason Card Office. The meal plan is due on the first day of school via the Student Account Portal. Payment plans are available for monthly installments.
Mason ID & Mason Money
Mason Mobile ID—Download the “Atrium Campus Connect App” and log in with your Mason Net ID to add your Mason ID to your mobile wallet. See details instructions here.
Physical Mason ID—Bring a government-issued photo ID to Student Union Building I, Suite 1203. See office hours here.
Visit Student Union Building I, Suite 1203, to get your photos taken. See office hours here.
You may also upload your photo online. Log in to the Online Mason Card Office and upload one valid government-issued photo ID and one headshot that meets the photo guidelines.
Yes. Both Mason Mobile ID and the physical ID card provide the same access level and capabilities around campus.
You may choose between a physical Mason ID card and the Mason Mobile ID. Once users activate their Mason Mobile IDs online, their existing physical Mason ID cards will automatically deactivate or vice versa.
Mason ID is required for many services on campus, including meal plans, printers, library or equipment rentals, fitness facilities, Mason shuttles, major events, and so much more! We strongly encourage all students to obtain their Mason ID for easy access to services around campus.
You can deposit Mason Money to your Mason ID online, in mobile apps, or in person. Click here for detailed instructions on how to deposit Mason Money to your Mason ID.
Mason Money can be used for on-campus services and at 0ff-campus Mason Merchant locations.
You may select/change your meal plan at the Online Mason Card Office. The meal plan is due on the first day of school via the Student Account Portal. Payment plans are available for monthly installments.
Parking & Transportation
No. Your permit is associated with a particular lot(s) or deck. There is not a specific space in that lot or deck that is assigned to you. For the reserved lots and parking decks, the number of permits sold ensures that you will have a space in the lot or deck under regular conditions.
No. A parking permit is for a designated area (e.g. Lot I), and each permit has specific regulations about where it can be used. For details on all parking permits and their associated regulations, please visit parking.gmu.edu.
A vehicle that requires a license plate must be included as a vehicle on a permit.
If only driving a motorcycle, a specific motorcycle permit should be purchased in the Parking Services office. Motorcycles and scooters requiring license plates should park in designated motorcycle areas around campus.
An electric scooter does not require a parking permit but must be parked at a bike rack.
Please note: electric vehicles – scooters, skateboards, bikes, etc – cannot be stored indoors in a residence hall or any Mason building.
Not yet. Fall 2023 parking permits will go on sale online at parking.gmu.edu at the end of July. The start date for purchase depends upon your class standing:
- Graduate students and seniors: July 25
- Sophomores and Juniors: July 27
- Freshman: July 28
Currently, parking permits are only available on a by semester basis.
Resident students may have one car on their virtual permit.
Non-resident students may have up to two cars on their virtual permit, but only one vehicle may be parked on campus at a time.
There is transportation to the Mason Square, SciTech, and Fairfax campuses, but generally, when you arrive, you get around campus via walking.
On the Fairfax campus, you also have access to bikes and e-scooters (cost). One of our Mason Shuttles – the West Campus Route – does travel between the West Campus and East Campus and travels around Patriot Circle as part of its route.
There is no direct public transportation to the Loudoun Campus and Mason Shuttles does not have a route to the campus.
Mason Shuttles is free with your Mason ID so it would be cheaper to use rather than purchasing a parking permit.
Patriot Perks
Yes. Many companies offer student pricing or discounts with your school email. Signup guidelines and processes vary. Please check individual service providers for details.
Visit PatriotPerks.gmu.edu for a full listing.
The perks are a lifetime for our Mason community. With your Mason ID or Alumni Association Member Card, you can continue getting discounts from selected businesses. Check discount eligibility under each listing.