Mason vs. VMI

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

 Mason VMI
Location Fairfax, VA Lexington, VA
Setting Large Suburban Distant Rural
Enrollment 39,049 1,512
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #228 #150
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gmu.edu vmi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Mason VMI
Tuition (In State) $9,795 $9,782
Tuition (Out of State) $35,377 $39,590
Room & Board $13,120 $10,674
Avg Net Price $18,479 $18,129
Avg Grant Aid $10,760 $19,111
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 69%

Admission

 Mason VMI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,001 1,192
Admitted 18,001 847
Acceptance Rate 90% 71.1%
Enrolled % 23% 42.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.65
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/31 22/29
SAT Range 1140/1350 1105/1300
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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 Mason VMI
% Men 48% 87%
% Women 52% 13%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 43% 80%
% Black 11% 6%
% Hispanic 13% 5%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 5% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 0%

Students

 Mason VMI
% In-State 77% 63%
% Out-of-State 17% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than VMI based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 1,512 students)

Mason vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mason or VMI?

  • George Mason University is 0.1% more expensive to attend than VMI for in-state tuition ($9,795.00 vs. $9,782.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.9% higher at VMI than George Mason University ($39,590.00 vs. $35,377.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Military Institute than Mason ($18,129 vs. $18,479)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 22.9% lower than costs at George Mason University ($10,674 vs. $13,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than Virginia Military Institute (74% vs. 69%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 77.6% larger than aid received George Mason University ($19,111 vs. $10,760)

Mason vs. VMI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 14 points higher than at VMI (1139)
  • Incoming Mason students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at VMI (25)
  • 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 (90%) than VMI (71.1%)

Mason vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at VMI is higher than George Mason University (69% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn on average $200 more per year than Mason graduates after ten years. ($62,100 vs. $61,900)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $5,250 lower median federal student loan debt than VMI graduates. ($19,750 vs. $25,000)
  • Mason graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans 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/