Ithaca College vs. Mason

Deciding between Ithaca College 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.

Ithaca College
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Ithaca College Small Suburban
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Ithaca College 4,767
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Ithaca College Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ithaca College #163
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ithaca College -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Ithaca College Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ithaca College
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Ithaca College $16,192
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Ithaca College $35,253
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College $33,450
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College 100%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ithaca College 12,400
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Ithaca College 8,557
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ithaca College 69%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Ithaca College 12.3%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ithaca College 1310
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ithaca College 28
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ithaca College -
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ithaca College -
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ithaca College Difficult
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ithaca College Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Ithaca College 27/30
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Ithaca College 1230/1390
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ithaca College Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ithaca College 10:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ithaca College
    • Communication (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ithaca College 74%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ithaca College $56,100
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ithaca College 84%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ithaca College $25,750
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ithaca College $266
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Ithaca College 57%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ithaca College Low
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Ithaca College No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Ithaca College 71%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Ithaca College 4%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Ithaca College 6%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ithaca College 8%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ithaca College 3%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Ithaca College 2%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ithaca College 7%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ithaca College 55%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY 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 Ithaca College based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 4,767 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ithaca College is located in Ithaca, NY (Small Suburban setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Ithaca College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ithaca College 10:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Ithaca College vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ithaca College 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 Ithaca College ($18,823 vs. $35,253).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 2.9% lower than at Ithaca College ($15,725 vs. $16,192).
  • Ithaca College is 276.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $39,320 more per year; $53,540.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 38.4% higher at Ithaca College than at George Mason University (about $14,852 more per year; $53,540.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ithaca College than at George Mason University (100% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ithaca College students is 160.3% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($33,450 vs. $12,852).

Ithaca College vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ithaca College 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 Ithaca College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ithaca College (1310) is 50 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Ithaca College 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: Ithaca College 1230/1390; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ithaca College 27/30; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ithaca College - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Ithaca College (69%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at Ithaca College vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Ithaca College vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ithaca College 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).

  • Ithaca College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Ithaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Ithaca College graduates ($19,750 vs. $25,750).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ithaca College graduates ($204 vs. $266).
  • More Ithaca College 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.