Michigan State vs. Mason

Deciding between Michigan 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.

Michigan State University
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI with George Mason University in Fairfax, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Michigan State University is larger than Mason based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 39,766 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Michigan 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: Michigan State University 17:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Michigan State vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State 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 Michigan State ($18,823 vs. $23,657).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 20.1% lower than at George Mason University ($12,564 vs. $15,725).
  • Michigan State University is 15.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $2,238 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.3% higher at Michigan State than at George Mason University (about $5,154 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at George Mason University (88% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 31.8% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($12,852 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan State 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 Michigan State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Michigan State University (1270) is 10 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Michigan State 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: Michigan State University 1180/1360; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Michigan State (84.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Michigan State vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan State 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).

  • Michigan State University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than Michigan State graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $60,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $5,734 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($19,750 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($204 vs. $263).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 68%)

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.