Fordham vs. Mason

Deciding between Fordham 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.

Fordham University
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Fordham Large City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Fordham 16,150
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Fordham #133
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Fordham
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Fordham $24,090
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Fordham $48,190
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Fordham $35,988
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Fordham 95%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Fordham 43,364
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Fordham 25,719
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Fordham 1400
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Fordham 31
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Fordham 3.67
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Fordham A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Fordham Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Fordham 30/33
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Fordham Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Fordham 14:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Fordham 78%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Fordham $64,200
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Fordham 77%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Fordham $26,000
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Fordham $268
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Fordham 39%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Fordham 61%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Fordham High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Fordham No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Fordham 59%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Fordham 10%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Fordham 4%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Fordham 14%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Fordham 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Fordham 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Fordham 3%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Fordham 7%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Fordham 2%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Fordham 38%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Fordham 51%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Fordham University in Bronx, 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 Fordham based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 16,150 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Fordham vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fordham 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 Fordham ($18,823 vs. $48,190).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 34.7% lower than at Fordham University ($15,725 vs. $24,090).
  • Fordham University is 356.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $50,695 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 67.8% higher at Fordham than at George Mason University (about $26,227 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at George Mason University (95% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fordham University students is 180% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($35,988 vs. $12,852).

Fordham vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fordham 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 Fordham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Fordham University (1400) is 140 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Fordham 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: Fordham University 1320/1480; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fordham University 30/33; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fordham - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Fordham Jan 1, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Fordham (3.67).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Fordham (59.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.7% at Fordham vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Fordham vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fordham 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).

  • Fordham University's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from Fordham University earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,200 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $6,250 lower median loan debt than Fordham graduates ($19,750 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fordham graduates ($204 vs. $268).
  • More Fordham graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.