The Mason ID is George Mason University’s official ID card and your key to life on campus! The Mason ID is an all-in-one card to access your Mason Money, meal plan, campus facilities, residence halls, George Mason shuttles, social and athletic events, and more. No need to carry cash when there are so many benefits!
CHOOSE ONLY ONE OPTION
Mason ID cards can be printed on the Fairfax Campus only.
Activate & Access Now
Where to Use
Pickup at Mason Card Office
Where to Use
Log in to the Online Mason Card Office and upload one valid government-issued photo ID and one headshot that meets the photo guidelines.
Visit any Mason Card Office at Fairfax, SciTech, or Mason Square during regular business hours.
Present a valid government-issued photo ID and your G Number. Staff will take your photo during your visit.
Activate Your Mason Mobile ID? You must have a photo on your account before you can activate your Mason Mobile ID.
Approval notice will be sent to the applicant’s George Mason email within 1-3 business days.
If your photo is not approved, we’ll include the reason and invite you to submit a new one.
You can skip this process by having your photo taken in person.
Choose ONLY ONE option
Activate your Mason Mobile ID now on your iPhone, Apple Watch, or Android device.
Bring a government photo ID and your G number to pick up your physical Mason ID at Fairfax Campus.
The Mason ID is for members of the university currently studying or working at Mason. The first Mason ID is free. A card replacement for a lost, damaged, or stolen card is $25 each. To obtain your first Mason ID, follow the instructions below to complete the steps.
Note: We encourage everyone to activate the Mason Mobile ID. New Mason ID users who have activated their Mason Mobile ID between January 6, 2025, and August 17, 2025, will not be charged the $25 replacement fee for switching to a physical Mason ID.
Students must be registered for the current semester.
Faculty/Staff, contract employees, and affiliates must complete the electronic approval hiring process.
The Mason ID will display your legal name. The Mason ID is for campus use and is intended to be used by the individual whose name and photo appear on the front of the card. Misuse is subject to judicial proceedings.
Your account and personal information will be kept strictly confidential as per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Outside parties will not be privileged to information about you, your account, or the purchases you make without your express consent unless such disclosure is in compliance with a court order or government legislation.
Store your Mason ID in your wallet or other secured places to avoid physical damage to the card. If treated properly, the card will last your entire stay at Mason. Do not puncture, laminate, or fold the Mason ID.
If your card is lost or stolen, deactivate your Mason ID to prevent any unauthorized usage of Mason Money and meal plans:
For a replacement Mason ID, visit the Mason Card Office on the Fairfax Campus, SciTech Campus, or Mason Square during business hours. There is a $25 fee for a card replacement.
If your newly issued Mason ID does not grant you access to buildings or spaces, contact your office or building manager for access management.
Any special requests for exceptions must be submitted to Mason Card Office in writing, including name, G Number, and mailing address. Requestors will be notified by mail of the University’s decision. Retakes at an individual’s request will be subject to the $25 replacement fee.
Sunglasses or other articles which obscure the face are not acceptable unless required for medical reasons (an eye patch, for example). In cases of medical necessity, a note from a healthcare provider must be presented before the picture can be taken. A replacement ID should be created as soon as the item is no longer required.
Hats or other head coverings are acceptable only when required by religious beliefs, tenets, traditions or customs, and may not cover any portion of the applicant’s face.
Another form of ID issued by a government or civil agency should be provided in support of the request. (Photographs of applicants wearing tribal, national costume, or other headgear not specifically religious in nature are not acceptable).
Office Location
Student Union 1, Room 1203
4469 Aquia Creek Lane
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 993-1004
[email protected]
Mailstop: MSN 5A5
| Monday | 8:30 am – 5:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8:30 am – 5:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30 am – 5:00 pm |
| Thursday | 8:30 am – 5:00 pm |
| Friday | 8:30 am – 5:00 pm |
Office Location
Van Metre Hall, Room 220
3351 Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 993-2095
[email protected]
Mailstop: MSN 5A7
| Monday | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Thursday | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Friday | By appointment only Email [email protected] |
Office Location
Beacon Hall, First Floor Lobby
10945 George Mason Circle
Manassas, VA 20110
[email protected]
(703) 993-7042
The SciTech Campus card office is closed during the summer. Please contact the Fairfax Campus location for assistance.
Both the Mason Mobile ID and the plastic Mason ID provide access to campus services. Be sure to carry your Mason ID on campus to access dozens of goods and services by tapping on the card readers.
Use your Mason ID to access services on campus, including dining halls, printers, mailboxes, shuttles, vending machines, health centers, libraries, and more!
Gain keyless access to authorized spaces, office buildings, and residence halls with your Mason ID.
Receive free or reduced-price admissions for sporting events, fitness facilities, and social events on campus, and get discounts at retail stores, beauty salons, and grocery stores off campus.
Show your physical Mason ID or the Mason Mobile ID for exams on campus and federal, state, or local elections in Virginia.
You can manage your Mason ID, meal plans, and Mason Money with personalized settings, such as:
For questions on meal plan options, food nutrition, allergy concerns, or dietary restrictions, please visit Mason Dining FAQs for more information.
If you plan on using services, such as meal plans, Mason Money, campus shuttles, building access, and off-campus discounts, you must obtain and present your Mason ID at the time of these services.
If your card is lost or stolen, choose one of the following methods to deactivate your Mason ID to prevent any unauthorized usage of Mason Money and meal plans:
For a replacement Mason ID, visit the Mason Card Office on the Fairfax Campus, SciTech Campus, or Mason Square during business hours. There is a $25 fee for a card replacement.
After receiving your replacement card, log into the Online Mason Card Office to reactivate it. If your newly issued Mason ID does not grant you access to buildings or spaces, contact your office or building manager for access management.
Students—All academic and administrative buildings will be open during regular business hours and do not require Mason ID. To access residence halls, contact the Housing and Residence Life staff for support.
Faculty/Staff/Affiliate—All academic and administrative buildings will be open during business hours. To gain access outside of operation hours, contact your office or building manager to request additional access.
Campus services (such as dining, retail, entertainment, and recreation) that are open to the public accept debit/credit cards.
Due to technical challenges, we cannot print physical Mason IDs for all users. We encourage everyone who currently doesn’t have a Mason ID or has lost/damaged a Mason ID to activate the Mason Mobile ID.
For current physical Mason ID users, the physical Mason ID is working properly. If you opt for the Mason Mobile ID, there is no cost for switching from a physical Mason ID card to the Mason Mobile ID. However, once your Mason Mobile ID is activated, the physical card will stop functioning immediately.
There is no cost to use your Mason ID on mobile devices.
If you are new and never downloaded the Mason Mobile ID, follow the steps here to activate your Mason Mobile ID.
If you don’t have access to your old device:
If you still have access to your old device:
Please check the following setup guidelines:
If you experience any technical difficulties, contact the Mason Card Office on the Fairfax Campus during business hours.
iPhones XS and later: Express Mode with power reserve is available for up to five hours after the device’s battery needs to be charged. You can press the side button to check if Express Mode is available when your iPhone needs to be charged. Doing this often may significantly reduce the power reserve for Express Mode. If you choose to power off your iPhone, this feature will not be available.
Android, iPhone 6/6 Plus to iPhone X: Your device must have battery power to use the Mason Mobile ID.
Yes. The Mason Mobile ID provides full access to all campus services. Simply tap your device on the card readers, and you can access your meal plan, library, gym membership, building entrance, Mason Money, and more.
The ASO Tech provides attendance readers and transaction hardware for tracking event attendance and assisting Mason Money transactions. The devices are available to rent for Mason departments, student organizations, and off-campus Mason Merchants.
The attendance reader is a cloud-based system that allows campus departments to gain attendance and demographic data for events, classes, or other services. After attaching a USB tap reader to a laptop, users may collect customer information by tapping the Mason ID on the reader.
Service providers who wish to accept Mason Money as a payment solution may rent a wireless reader. Available for campus departments, student organizations, and external partners, the reader provides a simple transaction solution for customers who wish to pay with Mason Money.
Mason ID cards can be printed on the Fairfax Campus only.