Mason vs. Old Dominion

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

Mason Old Dominion
Location Fairfax, VA Norfolk, VA
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 39,049 23,107
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #228 #624
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gmu.edu odu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mason Old Dominion
Tuition (In State) $9,795 $7,239
Tuition (Out of State) $35,377 $26,664
Room & Board $13,120 $13,480
Avg Net Price $18,479 $16,098
Avg Grant Aid $10,760 $9,058
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 92%

Admission

Mason Old Dominion
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,001 14,435
Admitted 18,001 13,734
Acceptance Rate 90% 95.1%
Enrolled % 23% 22.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31 22/27
SAT Range 1140/1350 1090/1250
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Mason Old Dominion
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Mason Old Dominion
Graduation Rate 64% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $61,900 $47,600
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,750 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $204 $242

Diversity

Mason Old Dominion
% Men 48% 44%
% Women 52% 56%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 43% 47%
% Black 11% 27%
% Hispanic 13% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 5% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 6%

Students

Mason Old Dominion
% In-State 77% 90%
% Out-of-State 17% 7%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than Old Dominion based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 23,107 students)

Mason vs. Old Dominion Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mason or Old Dominion?

  • George Mason University is 35.3% more expensive to attend than Old Dominion for in-state tuition ($9,795.00 vs. $7,239.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.7% higher at Mason than Old Dominion University ($35,377.00 vs. $26,664.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Old Dominion University than Mason ($16,098 vs. $18,479)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 2.7% lower than costs at Old Dominion University ($13,120 vs. $13,480)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Old Dominion University than George Mason University (92% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 18.8% larger than aid received Old Dominion University ($10,760 vs. $9,058)

Mason vs. Old Dominion Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 133 points higher than at Old Dominion (1020)
  • Incoming Mason students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Old Dominion (21)
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Old Dominion (3.3)
  • Old Dominion has a higher acceptance rate (95.1%) than Mason (90%)

Mason vs. Old Dominion Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mason or Old Dominion? 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 Old Dominion and Mason.

  • The graduation rate at Mason is higher than Old Dominion University (64% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $14,300 more per year than Old Dominion graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $47,600)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Old Dominion graduates. ($19,750 vs. $23,500)
  • Mason graduates are paying $38 less per month on federal student loans than Old Dominion graduates. ($204 vs. $242)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Old Dominion students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 53%)

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