Denison vs. Mason

Deciding between Denison University 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.

Denison University
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Denison 2,394
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Denison #95
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Denison -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Denison
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Denison $16,400
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Denison $43,721
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Denison $38,179
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Denison 94%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Denison 15,012
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Denison 2,611
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Denison 1410
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Denison 31
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Denison 3.76
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Denison A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Denison Very High
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Denison 30/33
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Denison Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Denison 9:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Denison 79%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Denison $56,100
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Denison 83%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Denison $26,000
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Denison $268
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Denison 48%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Denison 52%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Denison Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Denison No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Denison 66%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Denison 4%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Denison 7%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Denison 10%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Denison 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Denison 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Denison 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Denison 8%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Denison 2%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Denison 23%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Denison 58%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Denison University in Granville, OH 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 Denison based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Denison University is located in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Denison University 9:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Denison vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Denison 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 Denison ($18,823 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 4.1% lower than at Denison University ($15,725 vs. $16,400).
  • Denison University is 371.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $52,780 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 73.2% higher at Denison than at George Mason University (about $28,312 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Denison University than at George Mason University (94% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 197.1% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($38,179 vs. $12,852).

Denison vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Denison 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 Denison.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 150 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Denison students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 1320/1490; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 30/33; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Denison - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Denison Jan 15, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Denison students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.8% at Denison vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Denison vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Denison 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).

  • Denison University's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Denison graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $6,250 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($19,750 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($204 vs. $268).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.