William & Mary vs. Mason

Deciding between William & Mary 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.

William & Mary
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • William & Mary Williamsburg, VA
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • William & Mary Large Suburban
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • William & Mary 9,818
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • William & Mary Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • William & Mary #63
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • William & Mary -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • William & Mary Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • William & Mary
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • William & Mary $25,914
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • William & Mary $51,038
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • William & Mary $16,182
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • William & Mary $19,686
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • William & Mary $23,144
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • William & Mary 43%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • William & Mary 17,798
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • William & Mary 6,064
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • William & Mary 34.1%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • William & Mary 26.6%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • William & Mary 1470
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • William & Mary 33
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • William & Mary 3.85
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • William & Mary A
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • William & Mary Exceptional
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • William & Mary High
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • William & Mary 32/34
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • William & Mary 1400/1530
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • William & Mary Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • William & Mary Jan 2, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • William & Mary 12:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • William & Mary
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Business (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • History (7%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • William & Mary 91%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • William & Mary $68,700
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • William & Mary 85%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • William & Mary $19,500
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • William & Mary $201
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • William & Mary 41%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • William & Mary 59%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • William & Mary High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • William & Mary No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • William & Mary 59%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • William & Mary 8%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • William & Mary 7%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • William & Mary 9%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • William & Mary 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • William & Mary 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • William & Mary 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • William & Mary 6%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • William & Mary 6%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • William & Mary 59%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • William & Mary 37%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA 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 William & Mary based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 9,818 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: William & Mary 12:1; George Mason University 16:1.

William & Mary vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, William & Mary 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 William & Mary ($18,823 vs. $19,686).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 2.8% lower than at William & Mary ($15,725 vs. $16,182).
  • William & Mary is 82.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $11,694 more per year; $25,914.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.9% higher at William & Mary than at George Mason University (about $12,350 more per year; $51,038.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at William & Mary (71% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by William & Mary students is 80.1% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($23,144 vs. $12,852).

William & Mary vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, William & Mary 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 William & Mary.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at William & Mary (1470) is 210 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming William & Mary 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: William & Mary 1400/1530; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: William & Mary 32/34; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William & Mary - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: William & Mary Jan 2, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman William & Mary 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 William & Mary (34.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.6% at William & Mary vs. 20.2% at Mason.

William & Mary vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for William & Mary 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).

  • William & Mary's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from William & Mary earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,700 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, William & Mary graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than Mason graduates ($19,500 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, William & Mary graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mason graduates ($201 vs. $204).
  • More William & Mary graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.