Franciscan vs. Mason

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

 Franciscan Mason
Location Steubenville, OH Fairfax, VA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,750 39,527
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #549 #239
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website franciscan.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Franciscan Mason
Tuition (In State) $32,070 $10,095
Tuition (Out of State) $32,070 $35,677
Room & Board $9,540 $15,151
Avg Net Price $24,490 $18,900
Avg Grant Aid $18,561 $11,311
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 72%

Admission

 Franciscan Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,265 22,579
Admitted 1,636 20,057
Acceptance Rate 72.2% 88.8%
Enrolled % 41.2% 22.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.78 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/29 25/30
SAT Range 1100/1290 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

 Franciscan Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (30%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 Franciscan Mason
Graduation Rate 70% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,800 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $227 $204

Diversity

 Franciscan Mason
% Men 9% 13%
% Women 11% 17%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 83% 43%
% Black 1% 11%
% Hispanic 10% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

 Franciscan Mason
% In-State 17% 77%
% Out-of-State 82% 16%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than Franciscan based on total student enrollment (39,527 students vs. 3,750 students)

Franciscan vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Franciscan or Mason?

  • Franciscan University of Steubenville is 217.7% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($32,070.00 vs. $10,095.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.2% higher at Mason than Franciscan University of Steubenville ($35,677.00 vs. $32,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Franciscan ($18,900 vs. $24,490)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franciscan University of Steubenville are 58.8% lower than costs at George Mason University ($9,540 vs. $15,151)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Franciscan University of Steubenville than George Mason University (98% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franciscan University of Steubenville students is 64.1% larger than aid received George Mason University ($18,561 vs. $11,311)

Franciscan vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Franciscan University of Steubenville (1165) is 12 points higher than at Mason (1153)
  • Incoming Franciscan students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at Mason (26)
  • Accepted freshman Franciscan students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at Mason (3.68)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Franciscan (72.2%)

Franciscan vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Franciscan 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 Franciscan.

  • The graduation rate at Franciscan is higher than George Mason University (70% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $22,100 more per year than Franciscan graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $39,800)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $2,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Franciscan graduates. ($19,750 vs. $22,000)
  • Mason graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Franciscan graduates. ($204 vs. $227)
  • More Franciscan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 73%)

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