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George Washington JMU VCU Virginia Tech CNU Old Dominion UVA UMBC Georgetown Fordham UNC Charlotte UB| American University | George Mason University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | Mason | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Fairfax, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 13,885 | 39,049 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #93 | #228 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | gmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | Mason | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,070 | $9,795 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,070 | $35,377 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,706 | $13,120 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $41,369 | $18,479 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,138 | $10,760 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 66% | 74% |
Admission |
AU | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,510 | 20,001 | ||
| Admitted | 7,926 | 18,001 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 40.6% | 90% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.2% | 23% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1290/1430 | 1140/1350 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2025 | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
AU | Mason | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
AU | Mason | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 64% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $61,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 73% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $19,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $204 |
Diversity |
AU | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 48% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 52% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 5% | ||
| % International | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 5% |
Students |
AU | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 17% | ||
Campus |
AU | Mason | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- George Mason University is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 13,885 students)
AU vs. Mason Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or Mason?
- American University is 441.8% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $9,795.00)
- Out of state tuition is 50% higher at AU than George Mason University ($53,070.00 vs. $35,377.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than AU ($18,479 vs. $41,369)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 19.7% lower than costs at American University ($13,120 vs. $15,706)
- More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than American University (74% vs. 66%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 152.2% larger than aid received George Mason University ($27,138 vs. $10,760)
AU vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or Mason? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mason or AU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 99 points higher than at Mason (1153)
- Incoming AU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Mason (26)
- Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Mason (3.68)
- Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than AU (40.6%)
AU vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or Mason? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Mason and AU.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than George Mason University (77% vs. 64%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $2,900 more per year than Mason graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $61,900)
- George Mason University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $24,250)
- Mason graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($204 vs. $250)
- More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 73%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/