Georgetown vs. Mason

Deciding between Georgetown University and George Mason 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.

Georgetown University
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Georgetown Washington, DC
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Georgetown Large City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Georgetown 20,031
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Georgetown Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Georgetown #29
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Georgetown Roman Catholic
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Georgetown Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Georgetown
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Georgetown $68,017
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Georgetown $68,017
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Georgetown $20,596
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Georgetown $39,083
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Georgetown $49,658
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Georgetown 33%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Georgetown 26,131
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Georgetown 3,374
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Georgetown 12.9%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Georgetown 46.7%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Georgetown 1470
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Georgetown 33
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Georgetown 3.89
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Georgetown A
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Georgetown Elite
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Georgetown Very High
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Georgetown 31/35
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Georgetown 1390/1550
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Georgetown Required
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Georgetown
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Georgetown 11:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Georgetown
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Business (26%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Georgetown 94%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Georgetown $118,900
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Georgetown 87%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Georgetown $15,500
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Georgetown $160
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Georgetown 44%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Georgetown 56%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Georgetown High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Georgetown No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Georgetown 58%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Georgetown 10%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Georgetown 6%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Georgetown 8%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Georgetown 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Georgetown 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Georgetown 5%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Georgetown 12%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Georgetown 2%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Georgetown 2%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Georgetown 87%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Georgetown University in Washington, DC with George Mason University in Fairfax, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

George Mason University is larger than Georgetown based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 20,031 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Georgetown University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Georgetown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Georgetown University 11:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Georgetown vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Georgetown or Mason? 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 Georgetown ($18,823 vs. $39,083).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 23.7% lower than at Georgetown University ($15,725 vs. $20,596).
  • Georgetown University is 378.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $53,797 more per year; $68,017.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 75.8% higher at Georgetown than at George Mason University (about $29,329 more per year; $68,017.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at Georgetown University (71% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Georgetown University students is 286.4% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($49,658 vs. $12,852).

Georgetown vs. Mason Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Georgetown University (1470) is 210 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Georgetown students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Georgetown University 1390/1550; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Georgetown University 31/35; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Georgetown - Required; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Georgetown students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Georgetown (12.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.7% at Georgetown vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Georgetown vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Georgetown and Mason? 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).

  • Georgetown University's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from Georgetown University earn a median of about $57,000 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,900 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Georgetown University graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Mason graduates ($15,500 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, Georgetown graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mason graduates ($160 vs. $204).
  • More Georgetown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.