Mason vs. VMI

Deciding between George Mason University and Virginia Military Institute? 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
Virginia Military Institute

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • VMI Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • VMI Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • Mason 39,766
  • VMI 1,527
  • Type
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • VMI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mason #243
  • VMI #123
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mason -
  • VMI -
  • Status
  • Mason Non-profit
  • VMI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mason
  • VMI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mason $14,220
  • VMI $21,046
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mason $38,688
  • VMI $52,638
  • Room & Board
  • Mason $15,725
  • VMI $11,310
  • Average Net Price
  • Mason $18,823
  • VMI $18,825
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mason $12,852
  • VMI $23,821
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mason 71%
  • VMI 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Mason 25,234
  • VMI 2,066
  • Admitted
  • Mason 22,074
  • VMI 1,472
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mason 87.5%
  • VMI 71.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Mason 20.2%
  • VMI 31.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mason 1260
  • VMI 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mason 27
  • VMI 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mason 3.68
  • VMI 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mason A-
  • VMI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mason Difficult
  • VMI Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mason
  • VMI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Mason 25/30
  • VMI 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • VMI 1050/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mason Test optional
  • VMI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027
  • VMI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mason 16:1
  • VMI 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • VMI
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • History (14%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mason 64%
  • VMI 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mason $61,900
  • VMI $62,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mason 73%
  • VMI 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mason $19,750
  • VMI $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mason $204
  • VMI $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mason 49%
  • VMI 86%
  • % Women
  • Mason 51%
  • VMI 14%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mason Very High
  • VMI Low
  • HBCU
  • Mason No
  • VMI No
  • % White
  • Mason 43%
  • VMI 80%
  • % Asian
  • Mason 19%
  • VMI 4%
  • % Black
  • Mason 11%
  • VMI 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mason 13%
  • VMI 5%
  • % Native American
  • Mason 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mason 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mason 5%
  • VMI 2%
  • % International
  • Mason 5%
  • VMI 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mason 5%
  • VMI 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mason 77%
  • VMI 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mason 14%
  • VMI 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare George Mason University in Fairfax, VA with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

George Mason University is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • George Mason University is located in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
  • George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: George Mason University 16:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Mason vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mason or VMI? 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 VMI ($18,823 vs. $18,825).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 28.1% lower than at George Mason University ($11,310 vs. $15,725).
  • Virginia Military Institute is 48% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $6,826 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 36.1% higher at VMI than at George Mason University (about $13,950 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Military Institute than at George Mason University (81% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 85.3% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($23,821 vs. $12,852).

Mason vs. VMI Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at George Mason University (1260) is 100 points higher than at VMI (1160).
  • Incoming Mason students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 27) as students at VMI (27).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Mason University 1160/1360; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Mason University 25/30; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mason - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at VMI (3.65).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than VMI (71.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.2% at Mason vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Mason vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mason and VMI? 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).

  • Virginia Military Institute's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $200 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $5,250 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($19,750 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($204 vs. $258).
  • More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 73%)

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.