Mason vs. SU

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

 Mason SU
Location Fairfax, VA Winchester, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 39,527 4,343
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #239 #523
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gmu.edu su.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Mason SU
Tuition (In State) $10,095 $34,614
Tuition (Out of State) $35,677 $34,614
Room & Board $15,151 $11,800
Avg Net Price $18,900 $26,400
Avg Grant Aid $11,311 $24,100
% Receiving Grant Aid 72% 100%

Admission

 Mason SU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,579 3,763
Admitted 20,057 2,929
Acceptance Rate 88.8% 77.8%
Enrolled % 22.2% 16.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.7
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/30 19/26
SAT Range 1140/1340 1010/1230
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, 2026 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

 Mason SU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 Mason SU
% Men 13% 9%
% Women 17% 31%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 43% 59%
% Black 11% 11%
% Hispanic 13% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 5% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 13%

Students

 Mason SU
% In-State 77% 58%
% Out-of-State 16% 42%

Campus

 Mason SU
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 SU based on total student enrollment (39,527 students vs. 4,343 students)

Mason vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mason or SU?

  • Shenandoah University is 242.9% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($34,614.00 vs. $10,095.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.1% higher at Mason than Shenandoah University ($35,677.00 vs. $34,614.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than SU ($18,900 vs. $26,400)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 28.4% lower than costs at George Mason University ($11,800 vs. $15,151)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than George Mason University (100% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 113.1% larger than aid received George Mason University ($24,100 vs. $11,311)

Mason vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 148 points higher than at SU (1005)
  • Incoming Mason students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at SU (22)
  • 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 (88.8%) than SU (77.8%)

Mason vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Mason is higher than Shenandoah University (64% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $13,600 more per year than SU graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $48,300)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $5,250 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $25,000)
  • Mason graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans 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/