Mason vs. VCU

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

 Mason VCU
Location Fairfax, VA Richmond, VA
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 39,049 28,082
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #228 #442
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gmu.edu vcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Mason VCU
Tuition (In State) $9,795 $12,458
Tuition (Out of State) $35,377 $33,726
Room & Board $13,120 $12,279
Avg Net Price $18,479 $21,294
Avg Grant Aid $10,760 $12,583
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 83%

Admission

 Mason VCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,001 18,242
Admitted 18,001 16,600
Acceptance Rate 90% 91%
Enrolled % 23% 25.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.75
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31 22/30
SAT Range 1140/1350 1030/1290
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, 2025 Jan 18, 2025

Academics

 Mason VCU
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 (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

Outcomes

 Mason VCU
Graduation Rate 64% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $61,900 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,750 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $204 $240

Diversity

 Mason VCU
% Men 48% 36%
% Women 52% 64%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 43% 50%
% Black 11% 18%
% Hispanic 13% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 5% 3%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

 Mason VCU
% In-State 77% 92%
% Out-of-State 17% 6%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than VCU based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 28,082 students)

Mason vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mason or VCU?

  • Virginia Commonwealth University is 27.2% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($12,458.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.9% higher at Mason than Virginia Commonwealth University ($35,377.00 vs. $33,726.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than VCU ($18,479 vs. $21,294)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Commonwealth University are 6.8% lower than costs at George Mason University ($12,279 vs. $13,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than George Mason University (83% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 16.9% larger than aid received George Mason University ($12,583 vs. $10,760)

Mason vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 56 points higher than at VCU (1097)
  • Incoming Mason students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at VCU (24)
  • Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Mason (3.68)
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than Mason (90%)

Mason vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Mason is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University (64% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $14,400 more per year than VCU graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $47,500)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than VCU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $23,250)
  • Mason graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than VCU graduates. ($204 vs. $240)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 56%)

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