Ohio State vs. Mason

Deciding between Ohio State University Main Campus 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.

Ohio State University Main Campus
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohio State #135
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohio State -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohio State
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohio State 70%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ohio State 30
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ohio State A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ohio State Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ohio State Required
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohio State $222
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohio State 48%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohio State Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Ohio State No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Ohio State 71%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohio State 4%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Ohio State 7%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohio State 64%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohio State 28%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH with George Mason University in Fairfax, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Mason based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 39,766 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio State University Main Campus is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Ohio State vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio 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 Ohio State ($18,823 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 6.3% lower than at George Mason University ($14,738 vs. $15,725).
  • George Mason University is 7.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $976 more per year; $14,220.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.4% higher at Ohio State than at George Mason University (about $1,334 more per year; $40,022.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at Ohio State University Main Campus (71% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students is 2.3% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($13,151 vs. $12,852).

Ohio State vs. Mason Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 140 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ohio State - Required; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Ohio State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Ohio State vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Ohio State vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohio 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).

  • Ohio State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $11,300 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($19,750 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($204 vs. $222).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 63%)

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.