Hunter vs. Mason

Deciding between CUNY Hunter 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.

CUNY Hunter College
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Hunter Large City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hunter #297
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hunter -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hunter
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hunter $9,755
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hunter 87%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hunter 1260
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hunter
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Hunter A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Hunter Very High
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Hunter Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Hunter
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Hunter
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Hunter 46%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hunter 56%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hunter $119
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hunter 33%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Hunter 67%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hunter Very High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Hunter No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Hunter 27%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Hunter 26%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Hunter 10%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hunter 29%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Hunter 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hunter 1%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hunter 2%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Hunter 6%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hunter 0%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hunter 82%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hunter 0%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Hunter 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 Hunter based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 22,538 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY Hunter College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Hunter College 14:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Hunter vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hunter 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 CUNY Hunter College than Mason ($4,431 vs. $18,823).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 24.8% lower than at George Mason University ($11,832 vs. $15,725).
  • George Mason University is 92.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $6,838 more per year; $14,220.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 152.3% higher at Mason than at CUNY Hunter College (about $23,356 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at George Mason University (87% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 31.7% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($12,852 vs. $9,755).

Hunter vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hunter 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 Hunter.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at CUNY Hunter College (1260) is the same as at Mason (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsGeorge Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hunter - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Hunter 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 Hunter (53.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Hunter vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Hunter vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hunter 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).

  • George Mason University's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $13,100 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $8,202 lower median loan debt than Mason graduates ($11,548 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mason graduates ($119 vs. $204).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 56%)

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.