Mason vs. Liberty University

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

Mason Liberty University
Location Fairfax, VA Lynchburg, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 39,049 96,709
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #228 #852
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gmu.edu liberty.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mason Liberty University
Tuition (In State) $9,795 $21,374
Tuition (Out of State) $35,377 $21,374
Room & Board $13,120 $12,350
Avg Net Price $18,479 $29,913
Avg Grant Aid $10,760 $12,471
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 98%

Admission

Mason Liberty University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,001 30,943
Admitted 18,001 30,723
Acceptance Rate 90% 99.3%Open
Enrolled % 23% 19.9%Open
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31 21/29
SAT Range 1140/1350 1040/1250
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Mason Liberty University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (17%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (14%)
  • General Studies (14%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

Mason Liberty University
Graduation Rate 64% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $61,900 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 36%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,750 $24,166
Median Loan Payment $204 $249

Diversity

Mason Liberty University
% Men 48% 41%
% Women 52% 59%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 43% 46%
% Black 11% 13%
% Hispanic 13% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 5% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 31%

Students

Mason Liberty University
% In-State 77% 22%
% Out-of-State 17% 76%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Liberty University is larger than than Mason based on total student enrollment (96,709 students vs. 39,049 students)

Mason vs. Liberty University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mason or Liberty University?

  • Liberty University is 118.2% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($21,374.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 65.5% higher at Mason than Liberty University ($35,377.00 vs. $21,374.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Liberty University ($18,479 vs. $29,913)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Liberty University are 6.2% lower than costs at George Mason University ($12,350 vs. $13,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Liberty University than George Mason University (98% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Liberty University students is 15.9% larger than aid received George Mason University ($12,471 vs. $10,760)

Mason vs. Liberty University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 83 points higher than at Liberty University (1070)
  • Incoming Mason students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Liberty University (24)
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Liberty University (3.56)
  • Liberty University has a higher acceptance rate (99.3%) than Mason (90%)

Mason vs. Liberty University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mason or Liberty University? 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 Liberty University and Mason.

  • The graduation rate at Mason is higher than Liberty University (64% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $22,800 more per year than Liberty University graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $39,100)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $4,416 lower median federal student loan debt than Liberty University graduates. ($19,750 vs. $24,166)
  • Mason graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than Liberty University graduates. ($204 vs. $249)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Liberty University students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 36%)

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