Mason vs. Milligan

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

 Mason Milligan
Location Fairfax, VA Milligan, TN
Setting Large Suburban Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 39,527 1,200
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #239
Religious Affiliation - Christian Churches and Churches of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gmu.edu milligan.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Mason Milligan
Tuition (In State) $10,095 $37,700
Tuition (Out of State) $35,677 $37,700
Room & Board $15,151 $8,000
Avg Net Price $18,900 $21,463
Avg Grant Aid $11,311 $28,521
% Receiving Grant Aid 72% 100%

Admission

 Mason Milligan
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,579 1,164
Admitted 20,057 818
Acceptance Rate 88.8% 70.3%
Enrolled % 22.2% 29.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.69
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/30 21/27
SAT Range 1140/1340 1120/1290
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 Aug 28, 2026

Academics

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

Outcomes

 Mason Milligan
Graduation Rate 64% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $61,900 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,750 $25,500
Median Loan Payment $204 $263

Diversity

 Mason Milligan
% Men 13% 12%
% Women 17% 18%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 43% 82%
% Black 11% 4%
% Hispanic 13% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 5% 3%
% Unknown Race 5% 0%

Students

 Mason Milligan
% In-State 77% 50%
% Out-of-State 16% 47%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than Milligan based on total student enrollment (39,527 students vs. 1,200 students)

Mason vs. Milligan Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mason or Milligan?

  • Milligan University is 273.5% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($37,700.00 vs. $10,095.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.7% higher at Milligan than George Mason University ($37,700.00 vs. $35,677.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Milligan ($18,900 vs. $21,463)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milligan University are 89.4% lower than costs at George Mason University ($8,000 vs. $15,151)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Milligan University than George Mason University (100% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Milligan University students is 152.2% larger than aid received George Mason University ($28,521 vs. $11,311)

Mason vs. Milligan Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 25 points higher than at Milligan (1128)
  • Incoming Mason students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Milligan (25)
  • Accepted freshman Milligan students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Mason (3.68)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Milligan (70.3%)

Mason vs. Milligan Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mason or Milligan? 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 Milligan and Mason.

  • George Mason University students graduate with a $5,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Milligan graduates. ($19,750 vs. $25,500)
  • Mason graduates are paying $59 less per month on federal student loans than Milligan graduates. ($204 vs. $263)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Milligan students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 66%)

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