Living in Fairfax, Virginia
Reside in peaceful, welcoming Fairfax, with Washington, DC less than an hour away. Fill your résumé with all the career development opportunities of a city where Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and research thrive, knowing that you have a community behind you supporting your goals. Take your classes at the Fairfax campus or Mason Square, spend the day soaking in the buzz of a multicultural metropolis, then relax with your friends in the comfort of Fairfax. At Mason, there’s no need to choose - safety and excitement live together in harmony. For more exciting tips about living in Fairfax, check out our City Guide.
What makes this place unique?
Arlington, VA is the No. 1 Best City to Live in America (Niche.com 2020).
DC boasts some of the most amazing attractions in the world, including the (free) Smithsonian museums.
DC's White House and Capitol building are the backbone of American government. Living and learning near the Capital city gives Mason students opportunities found nowhere else.
Just a 45-minute commute to the White House
The Washington, DC area is known for its free activities, so whether you like to visit museums, watch films or enjoy a play, you can experience culture on any budget.
The world-famous Smithsonian museums change up their displays often, so you can enjoy something new every time you visit. (Our favorite? The Air and Space Museum!) For film lovers, you can check out the Angelika Film Center and Cafe or any of the film festivals that take place throughout the year. For theater, you might want to start with one of the most famous venues: The Kennedy Center. It has many different stages, including the Millennium Stage (which offers free performances every day of the year).
Professional sports in and around Washington, DC
Professional sports for every fan are in Washington, DC. Interested in catching a fly ball at a baseball game? Check out the World Series-winning team, the Washington Nationals. Head over to a Washington Wizards basketball game or Capitals hockey game at the Capitol One Arena in downtown DC.
Worldwide cuisine
Looking for a restaurant that serves food from home? You won’t need to look far in the Washington, DC area! You can try an array of international cuisines in Washington DC. Ethiopian? Mexican? Indian? Middle Eastern? You name it, there’s a restaurant nearby. If you prefer to cook for yourself, you can find familiar ingredients from home at some of the international grocery stores nearby, including the Great Wall Supermarket, 99 Ranch Market and H Mart.
Malls for miles
If you like to shop, Northern Virginia is a great place to find whatever you're looking for. You’ll find hundreds of brand-name stores at Fair Oaks Mall, Tysons Corner Center and Potomac Mills outlets that offer sales and special events year round. Town centers like Fairfax Corner and the Mosaic District are great alternatives to the mall scene because they feel like a downtown neighborhood. Across the Potomac River in Washington, DC, you will find breathtaking views along the historic Georgetown Waterfront shopping district on M Street. There is shopping everywhere you go!
Transportation in the city
Transportation to and from Mason is made easy by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Second only to New York City, Washington, DC ranks No. 2 in the nation for number of commuters. Do as locals do and queue on campus for the next metro into the city. The Fairfax Connector stops on campus and takes you all the way into DC in just 45 minutes, helping you get to your internship at Amazon or to the dinner and show with your friends.
Travel in the US
Want to explore the United States during your studies? With two major airports within 30 minutes of Mason’s campus, it’s convenient to get anywhere you want to go.