Elms College vs. Mason

Should I go to College of Our Lady of the Elms or George Mason University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Elms College 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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College of Our Lady of the Elms vs. George Mason University comparison
College of Our Lady of the Elms George Mason University College 3 College 4
College of Our Lady of the Elms George Mason University
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Overview

 Elms College Mason
Location Chicopee, MA Fairfax, VA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,332 39,527
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #374 #239
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elms.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Elms College Mason
Tuition (In State) $40,095 $10,095
Tuition (Out of State) $40,095 $35,677
Room & Board $15,150 $15,151
Avg Net Price $22,311 $18,900
Avg Grant Aid $31,015 $11,311
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 72%

Admission

 Elms College Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,442 22,579
Admitted 1,264 20,057
Acceptance Rate 87.7% 88.8%
Enrolled % 15.5% 22.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/30
SAT Range 1150/1320 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

Academics

 Elms College Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (49%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • History (5%)
  • General Studies (4%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 Elms College Mason
Graduation Rate 58% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,300 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $258 $204

Diversity

 Elms College Mason
% Men 4% 13%
% Women 18% 17%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 56% 43%
% Black 7% 11%
% Hispanic 10% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 5%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 24% 5%

Students

 Elms College Mason
% In-State 71% 77%
% Out-of-State 26% 16%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than Elms College based on total student enrollment (39,527 students vs. 1,332 students)

Elms College vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elms College or Mason?

  • College of Our Lady of the Elms is 297.2% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($40,095.00 vs. $10,095.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.4% higher at Elms College than George Mason University ($40,095.00 vs. $35,677.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Elms College ($18,900 vs. $22,311)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Our Lady of the Elms are 0% lower than costs at George Mason University ($15,150 vs. $15,151)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms than George Mason University (100% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of Our Lady of the Elms students is 174.2% larger than aid received George Mason University ($31,015 vs. $11,311)

Elms College vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 177 points higher than at Elms College (976)
  • Incoming Mason students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Elms College (22)
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Elms College (3.42)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Elms College (87.7%)

Elms College vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Elms College 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 Elms College.

  • The graduation rate at Mason is higher than College of Our Lady of the Elms (64% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $15,600 more per year than Elms College graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $46,300)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $5,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Elms College graduates. ($19,750 vs. $25,000)
  • Mason graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than Elms College graduates. ($204 vs. $258)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elms College students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 61%)

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