ASU vs. Mason

Should I go to Appalachian State University or George Mason University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ASU or Mason is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Appalachian State University vs. George Mason University comparison
Appalachian State University George Mason University College 3 College 4
Appalachian State University George Mason University
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Overview

 ASU Mason
Location Boone, NC Fairfax, VA
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 21,253 39,527
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #597 #239
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website appstate.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 ASU Mason
Tuition (In State) $4,242 $10,095
Tuition (Out of State) $21,238 $35,677
Room & Board $12,258 $15,151
Avg Net Price $14,712 $18,900
Avg Grant Aid $7,677 $11,311
% Receiving Grant Aid 47% 72%

Admission

 ASU Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 24,001 22,579
Admitted 21,275 20,057
Acceptance Rate 88.6% 88.8%
Enrolled % 19.9% 22.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.96 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 25/30
SAT Range 1100/1280 1140/1340
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 Feb 1, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

 ASU Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 ASU Mason
Graduation Rate 65% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $211 $204

Diversity

 ASU Mason
% Men 3% 13%
% Women 6% 17%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 85% 43%
% Black 3% 11%
% Hispanic 4% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

 ASU Mason
% In-State 87% 77%
% Out-of-State 13% 16%

Campus

 ASU Mason
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than ASU based on total student enrollment (39,527 students vs. 21,253 students)

ASU vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or Mason?

  • George Mason University is 138% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($10,095.00 vs. $4,242.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 68% higher at Mason than Appalachian State University ($35,677.00 vs. $21,238.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than Mason ($14,712 vs. $18,900)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 23.6% lower than costs at George Mason University ($12,258 vs. $15,151)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than Appalachian State University (72% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 47.3% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($11,311 vs. $7,677)

ASU vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or Mason? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mason or ASU .

  • The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 4 points higher than at Mason (1153)
  • Incoming ASU students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at Mason (26)
  • Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Mason (3.68)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than ASU (88.6%)

ASU vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ASU 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 ASU.

  • The graduation rate at ASU is higher than George Mason University (65% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $20,300 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $41,600)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than ASU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $20,500)
  • Mason graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than ASU graduates. ($204 vs. $211)
  • More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/