Mason vs. VWC

Deciding between George Mason University and Virginia Wesleyan 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
Virginia Wesleyan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • VWC Virginia Beach, VA
  • Setting
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • VWC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Mason 39,766
  • VWC 1,853
  • Type
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • VWC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mason #243
  • VWC #684
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mason -
  • VWC United Methodist
  • Status
  • Mason Non-profit
  • VWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mason
  • VWC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mason $14,220
  • VWC $37,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mason $38,688
  • VWC $37,500
  • Room & Board
  • Mason $15,725
  • VWC $11,930
  • Average Net Price
  • Mason $18,823
  • VWC $21,267
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mason $12,852
  • VWC $29,923
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mason 71%
  • VWC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Mason 25,234
  • VWC 3,808
  • Admitted
  • Mason 22,074
  • VWC 2,775
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mason 87.5%
  • VWC 72.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Mason 20.2%
  • VWC 11.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mason 1260
  • VWC 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mason 27
  • VWC 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mason 3.68
  • VWC 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mason A-
  • VWC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mason Difficult
  • VWC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mason
  • VWC Low
  • ACT Range
  • Mason 25/30
  • VWC 28/29
  • SAT Range
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • VWC 1140/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mason Test optional
  • VWC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027
  • VWC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mason 16:1
  • VWC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • VWC
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mason 64%
  • VWC 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mason $61,900
  • VWC $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mason 73%
  • VWC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mason $19,750
  • VWC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mason $204
  • VWC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mason 49%
  • VWC 47%
  • % Women
  • Mason 51%
  • VWC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mason Very High
  • VWC High
  • HBCU
  • Mason No
  • VWC No
  • % White
  • Mason 43%
  • VWC 54%
  • % Asian
  • Mason 19%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Black
  • Mason 11%
  • VWC 24%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mason 13%
  • VWC 8%
  • % Native American
  • Mason 0%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mason 0%
  • VWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mason 5%
  • VWC 5%
  • % International
  • Mason 5%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mason 5%
  • VWC 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mason 77%
  • VWC 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mason 14%
  • VWC 25%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

George Mason University is larger than VWC based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 1,853 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • George Mason University is located in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Wesleyan University is in Virginia Beach, VA (Large City setting).
  • George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: George Mason University 16:1; Virginia Wesleyan University 15:1.

Mason vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mason or VWC? 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 VWC ($18,823 vs. $21,267).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan University are 24.1% lower than at George Mason University ($11,930 vs. $15,725).
  • Virginia Wesleyan University is 163.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $23,280 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at Mason than at Virginia Wesleyan University (about $1,188 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $37,500.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Wesleyan University than at George Mason University (100% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Wesleyan University students is 132.8% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($29,923 vs. $12,852).

Mason vs. VWC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at George Mason University (1260) is 10 points higher than at VWC (1250).
  • Incoming VWC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Mason University 1160/1360; Virginia Wesleyan University 1140/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Mason University 25/30; Virginia Wesleyan University 28/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mason - Test optional; VWC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at VWC (3.39).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than VWC (72.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.2% at Mason vs. 11.9% at VWC.

Mason vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mason and VWC? 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 Virginia Wesleyan University's (48%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $20,200 more per year than VWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $7,250 lower median loan debt than VWC graduates ($19,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VWC graduates ($204 vs. $279).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VWC students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 57%)

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.