Mason vs. SU

Deciding between George Mason University and Shenandoah University? 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
Shenandoah University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • SU Winchester, VA
  • Setting
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • SU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Mason 39,766
  • SU 4,454
  • Type
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • SU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mason #243
  • SU #528
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mason -
  • SU United Methodist
  • Status
  • Mason Non-profit
  • SU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mason
  • SU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mason $14,220
  • SU $36,950
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mason $38,688
  • SU $36,950
  • Room & Board
  • Mason $15,725
  • SU $12,490
  • Average Net Price
  • Mason $18,823
  • SU $27,181
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mason $12,852
  • SU $24,747
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mason 71%
  • SU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Mason 25,234
  • SU 4,200
  • Admitted
  • Mason 22,074
  • SU 3,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mason 87.5%
  • SU 77%
  • Enrolled
  • Mason 20.2%
  • SU 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mason 1260
  • SU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mason 27
  • SU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mason 3.68
  • SU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mason A-
  • SU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mason Difficult
  • SU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mason
  • SU
  • ACT Range
  • Mason 25/30
  • SU 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • SU 1010/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mason Test optional
  • SU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027
  • SU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mason 16:1
  • SU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • SU
    • Health Professions (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Biology (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mason 64%
  • SU 45%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mason $61,900
  • SU $48,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mason 73%
  • SU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mason $19,750
  • SU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mason $204
  • SU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mason 49%
  • SU 30%
  • % Women
  • Mason 51%
  • SU 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mason Very High
  • SU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Mason No
  • SU No
  • % White
  • Mason 43%
  • SU 59%
  • % Asian
  • Mason 19%
  • SU 3%
  • % Black
  • Mason 11%
  • SU 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mason 13%
  • SU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Mason 0%
  • SU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mason 0%
  • SU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mason 5%
  • SU 4%
  • % International
  • Mason 5%
  • SU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mason 5%
  • SU 13%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mason 77%
  • SU 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mason 14%
  • SU 38%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

George Mason University is larger than SU based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 4,454 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • George Mason University is located in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting); Shenandoah University is in Winchester, VA (Small City setting).
  • George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Shenandoah University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: George Mason University 16:1; Shenandoah University 12:1.

Mason vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mason or SU? 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 SU ($18,823 vs. $27,181).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 20.6% lower than at George Mason University ($12,490 vs. $15,725).
  • Shenandoah University is 159.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $22,730 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.7% higher at Mason than at Shenandoah University (about $1,738 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $36,950.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shenandoah University than at George Mason University (100% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 92.6% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($24,747 vs. $12,852).

Mason vs. SU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at George Mason University (1260) is 140 points higher than at SU (1120).
  • Incoming Mason students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 22 at SU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Mason University 1160/1360; Shenandoah University 1010/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Mason University 25/30; Shenandoah University 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mason - Test optional; SU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027; SU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than SU (77%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.2% at Mason vs. 16.7% at SU.

Mason vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mason and SU? 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 Shenandoah University's (45%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $13,600 more per year than SU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $48,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $5,250 lower median loan debt than SU graduates ($19,750 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SU graduates ($204 vs. $258).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 60%)

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.