MHC vs. Mason

Should I go to Mount Holyoke College or George Mason University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MHC 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

JMU VCU Smith College Virginia Tech CNU Old Dominion UVA UMBC Bryn Mawr UNC Charlotte UB William & Mary
Mount Holyoke College vs. George Mason University comparison
Mount Holyoke College George Mason University College 3 College 4
Mount Holyoke College George Mason University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 MHC Mason
Location South Hadley, MA Fairfax, VA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,392 39,049
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #85 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mtholyoke.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MHC Mason
Tuition (In State) $58,280 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $58,280 $35,377
Room & Board $17,180 $13,120
Avg Net Price $35,765 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $39,304 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 80% 74%

Admission

 MHC Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,894 20,001
Admitted 1,946 18,001
Acceptance Rate 39.8% 90%
Enrolled % 28% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.87 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/34 25/31
SAT Range 1350/1540 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 Jan 15, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 MHC Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 MHC Mason
Graduation Rate 85% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,000 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,206 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $219 $204

Diversity

 MHC Mason
% Men 1% 48%
% Women 99% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 45% 43%
% Black 6% 11%
% Hispanic 8% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 26% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

 MHC Mason
% In-State 16% 77%
% Out-of-State 60% 17%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than MHC based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 2,392 students)

MHC vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC or Mason?

  • Mount Holyoke College is 495% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($58,280.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 64.7% higher at MHC than George Mason University ($58,280.00 vs. $35,377.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than MHC ($18,479 vs. $35,765)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 30.9% lower than costs at Mount Holyoke College ($13,120 vs. $17,180)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than George Mason University (80% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Holyoke College students is 265.3% larger than aid received George Mason University ($39,304 vs. $10,760)

MHC vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman MHC students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Mason (3.68)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than MHC (39.8%)

MHC vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MHC 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 MHC.

  • The graduation rate at MHC is higher than George Mason University (85% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $11,900 more per year than MHC graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $50,000)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $1,456 lower median federal student loan debt than MHC graduates. ($19,750 vs. $21,206)
  • Mason graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than MHC graduates. ($204 vs. $219)
  • More MHC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/