Oberlin vs. Mason

Deciding between Oberlin 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.

Oberlin College
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Oberlin #153
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Oberlin -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Oberlin
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Oberlin 99%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Oberlin 32
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Oberlin A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Oberlin High
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Oberlin $274
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Oberlin 41%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Oberlin Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Oberlin No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Oberlin 68%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Oberlin 4%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Oberlin 5%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Oberlin 8%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Oberlin 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Oberlin 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Oberlin 6%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Oberlin 8%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Oberlin 1%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Oberlin 6%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Oberlin College in Oberlin, 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 Oberlin based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Oberlin vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oberlin 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 Oberlin ($18,823 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 19.4% lower than at Oberlin College ($15,725 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 373.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $53,146 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.1% higher at Oberlin than at George Mason University (about $28,678 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at George Mason University (99% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oberlin College students is 178.4% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($35,780 vs. $12,852).

Oberlin vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oberlin 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 Oberlin.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 180 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Oberlin 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: Oberlin College 1360/1520; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 31/34; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oberlin - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Oberlin vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Oberlin vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oberlin 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).

  • Oberlin College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $18,000 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $6,829 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($19,750 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($204 vs. $274).
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.