ISU vs. Mason

Should I go to Iowa State University or George Mason University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ISU or Mason 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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Iowa State University vs. George Mason University comparison
Iowa State University George Mason University College 3 College 4
Iowa State University George Mason University
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Overview

 ISU Mason
Location Ames, IA Fairfax, VA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 29,969 39,049
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #352 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iastate.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 ISU Mason
Tuition (In State) $8,678 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $25,162 $35,377
Room & Board $9,358 $13,120
Avg Net Price $15,310 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $11,043 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 80% 74%

Admission

 ISU Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,919 20,001
Admitted 19,776 18,001
Acceptance Rate 90.2% 90%
Enrolled % 29% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 25/31
SAT Range 1090/1350 1140/1350
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

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 ISU Mason
% Men 55% 48%
% Women 45% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 76% 43%
% Black 3% 11%
% Hispanic 5% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 7% 5%
% Unknown Race 5% 5%

Students

 ISU Mason
% In-State 52% 77%
% Out-of-State 45% 17%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than ISU based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 29,969 students)

ISU vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Mason?

  • George Mason University is 12.9% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($9,795.00 vs. $8,678.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.6% higher at Mason than Iowa State University ($35,377.00 vs. $25,162.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa State University than Mason ($15,310 vs. $18,479)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 40.2% lower than costs at George Mason University ($9,358 vs. $13,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Iowa State University than George Mason University (80% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa State University students is 2.6% larger than aid received George Mason University ($11,043 vs. $10,760)

ISU vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 11 points higher than at ISU (1142)
  • Incoming Mason students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at ISU (25)
  • 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 (90.2%) than Mason (90%)

ISU vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at ISU is higher than George Mason University (68% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $8,200 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $53,700)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $4,118 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $23,868)
  • Mason graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans 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/