AU vs. Mason

Deciding between American University and George Mason University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • Mason Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • Mason No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • Mason Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • Mason No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • Mason Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with George Mason University in Fairfax, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

George Mason University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; George Mason University 16:1.

AU vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Mason? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than AU ($18,823 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 12.6% lower than at American University ($15,725 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 313.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $44,551 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 51.9% higher at AU than at George Mason University (about $20,083 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at American University (71% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 182.8% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($36,349 vs. $12,852).

AU vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Mason? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Mason and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 110 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • 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 (87.5%) than AU (62%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 20.2% at Mason.

AU vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Mason? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • American University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($19,750 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.