ISU vs. Mason

Deciding between Iowa State 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.

Iowa State University
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 54%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • ISU 46%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa State University in Ames, IA 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 ISU based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 30,380 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iowa State University is located in Ames, IA (Small City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa State University 18:1; George Mason University 16:1.

ISU vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU 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 Iowa State University than Mason ($17,779 vs. $18,823).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 31.3% lower than at George Mason University ($10,808 vs. $15,725).
  • George Mason University is 31.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $3,433 more per year; $14,220.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 34% higher at Mason than at Iowa State University (about $9,807 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa State University than at George Mason University (77% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 19.1% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($12,852 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU 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 ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at George Mason University (1260) is 20 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming Mason students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 1120/1360; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than Mason (87.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 20.2% at Mason.

ISU vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU 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).

  • Iowa State University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $4,118 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($19,750 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($204 vs. $246).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.