Kenyon vs. Mason

Deciding between Kenyon 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.

Kenyon College
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kenyon Gambier, OH
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Kenyon Distant Rural
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Kenyon 2,249
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Kenyon Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kenyon #62
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kenyon -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Kenyon Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kenyon
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Kenyon $15,640
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Kenyon $46,859
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kenyon $40,731
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kenyon 82%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kenyon 7,726
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Kenyon 2,397
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kenyon 31%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Kenyon 18.3%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kenyon 1430
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kenyon 32
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kenyon 3.84
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kenyon A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kenyon Exceptional
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kenyon High
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Kenyon 31/33
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Kenyon 1358/1503
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kenyon Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Kenyon Jan 15, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kenyon 9:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kenyon
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • English and Literature (17%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kenyon $52,900
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kenyon $19,000
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kenyon $196
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kenyon 44%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Kenyon 56%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kenyon Low
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Kenyon No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Kenyon 73%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Kenyon 4%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Kenyon 4%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kenyon 7%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Kenyon 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kenyon 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kenyon 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Kenyon 5%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kenyon 3%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kenyon 12%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kenyon 78%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Kenyon College in Gambier, OH 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 Kenyon based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 2,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kenyon College is located in Gambier, OH (Distant Rural setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Kenyon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kenyon College 9:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Kenyon vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kenyon 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 Kenyon ($18,823 vs. $46,859).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kenyon College are 0.5% lower than at George Mason University ($15,640 vs. $15,725).
  • Kenyon College is 403% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $57,300 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 84.9% higher at Kenyon than at George Mason University (about $32,832 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kenyon College than at George Mason University (82% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kenyon College students is 216.9% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($40,731 vs. $12,852).

Kenyon vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kenyon 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 Kenyon.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kenyon College (1430) is 170 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Kenyon students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kenyon College 1358/1503; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kenyon College 31/33; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kenyon - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kenyon Jan 15, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kenyon students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Kenyon (31%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Kenyon vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Kenyon vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kenyon 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).

  • Kenyon College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than Kenyon graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kenyon College graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Mason graduates ($19,000 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, Kenyon graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mason graduates ($196 vs. $204).
  • More Kenyon 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.