Mason vs. Randolph

Deciding between George Mason University and Randolph College? 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.

George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Randolph Lynchburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Randolph Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Mason 39,766
  • Randolph 816
  • Type
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • Randolph Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mason #243
  • Randolph
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mason -
  • Randolph United Methodist
  • Status
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Randolph Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mason
  • Randolph

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mason $14,220
  • Randolph $30,310
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mason $38,688
  • Randolph $30,310
  • Room & Board
  • Mason $15,725
  • Randolph $12,350
  • Average Net Price
  • Mason $18,823
  • Randolph $21,668
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mason $12,852
  • Randolph $23,372
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mason 71%
  • Randolph 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Mason 25,234
  • Randolph 2,416
  • Admitted
  • Mason 22,074
  • Randolph 2,264
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Randolph 93.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Randolph 11.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mason 1260
  • Randolph 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mason 27
  • Randolph 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mason 3.68
  • Randolph 3.35
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mason A-
  • Randolph B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mason Difficult
  • Randolph Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mason
  • Randolph
  • ACT Range
  • Mason 25/30
  • Randolph 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Randolph 1100/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mason Test optional
  • Randolph Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027
  • Randolph

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mason 16:1
  • Randolph 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Randolph
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • History (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Mathematics (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mason 64%
  • Randolph 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mason $61,900
  • Randolph $43,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mason 73%
  • Randolph 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mason $19,750
  • Randolph $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mason $204
  • Randolph $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mason 49%
  • Randolph 41%
  • % Women
  • Mason 51%
  • Randolph 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mason Very High
  • Randolph Medium
  • HBCU
  • Mason No
  • Randolph No
  • % White
  • Mason 43%
  • Randolph 68%
  • % Asian
  • Mason 19%
  • Randolph 2%
  • % Black
  • Mason 11%
  • Randolph 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mason 13%
  • Randolph 6%
  • % Native American
  • Mason 0%
  • Randolph 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mason 0%
  • Randolph 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mason 5%
  • Randolph 4%
  • % International
  • Mason 5%
  • Randolph 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mason 5%
  • Randolph 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mason 77%
  • Randolph 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mason 14%
  • Randolph 21%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare George Mason University in Fairfax, VA with Randolph College in Lynchburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

George Mason University is larger than Randolph based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 816 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • George Mason University is located in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting); Randolph College is in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Randolph College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: George Mason University 16:1; Randolph College 8:1.

Mason vs. Randolph Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mason or Randolph? 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 Randolph ($18,823 vs. $21,668).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Randolph College are 21.5% lower than at George Mason University ($12,350 vs. $15,725).
  • Randolph College is 113.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $16,090 more per year; $30,310.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27.6% higher at Mason than at Randolph College (about $8,378 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $30,310.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Randolph College than at George Mason University (100% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Randolph College students is 81.9% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($23,372 vs. $12,852).

Mason vs. Randolph Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mason or Randolph? 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 Randolph and Mason.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at George Mason University (1260) is 100 points higher than at Randolph (1160).
  • Incoming Mason students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 22 at Randolph).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Mason University 1160/1360; Randolph College 1100/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Mason University 25/30; Randolph College 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mason - Test optional; Randolph - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Randolph (3.35).
  • Randolph has a higher acceptance rate (93.7%) than Mason (87.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.2% at Mason vs. 11.7% at Randolph.

Mason vs. Randolph Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mason and Randolph? 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).

  • George Mason University's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Randolph College's (63%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $18,700 more per year than Randolph graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $43,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $7,250 lower median loan debt than Randolph graduates ($19,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Randolph graduates ($204 vs. $279).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Randolph students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 63%)

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.