Barnard vs. Mason

Deciding between Barnard College 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.

Barnard College
George Mason University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Barnard -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Barnard
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Barnard A
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Barnard 32/34
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Barnard $184
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Barnard 2%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Barnard 98%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Barnard High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Barnard No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Barnard 53%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Barnard 14%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Barnard 7%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Barnard 12%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Barnard 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Barnard 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Barnard 6%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Barnard 8%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Barnard 0%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Barnard 20%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Barnard 62%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY 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 Barnard based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Barnard vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard 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 Barnard ($18,823 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 27.6% lower than at Barnard College ($15,725 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 391.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $55,668 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 80.6% higher at Barnard than at George Mason University (about $31,200 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at Barnard College (71% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 391.2% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($63,131 vs. $12,852).

Barnard vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard 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 Barnard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 260 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Barnard students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Barnard students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Barnard vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard 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).

  • Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from Barnard College earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,900 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $1,903 lower median loan debt than Mason graduates ($17,847 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mason graduates ($184 vs. $204).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.