RIT vs. Mason

Deciding between Rochester Institute of Technology 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.

Rochester Institute of Technology
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • RIT Rochester, NY
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • RIT Large Suburban
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • RIT 17,098
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • RIT Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RIT #175
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RIT -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • RIT Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RIT
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RIT $59,274
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RIT $59,274
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • RIT $16,142
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • RIT $39,534
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RIT $35,077
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RIT 98%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RIT 27,911
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • RIT 18,682
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RIT 66.9%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • RIT 16.3%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RIT 1380
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • RIT 31
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • RIT 3.7
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RIT A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • RIT Very High
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • RIT Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • RIT 29/33
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • RIT 1300/1460
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RIT Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RIT Jan 15, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RIT 13:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RIT
    • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Engineering Technology (11%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RIT 64%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RIT $64,900
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RIT 75%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RIT $28,000
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RIT $289
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RIT 64%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • RIT 36%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RIT Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • RIT No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • RIT 66%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • RIT 8%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • RIT 5%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • RIT 7%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • RIT 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RIT 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RIT 3%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • RIT 6%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RIT 5%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RIT 44%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RIT 51%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY 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 RIT based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 17,098 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1; George Mason University 16:1.

RIT vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIT 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 RIT ($18,823 vs. $39,534).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 2.6% lower than at Rochester Institute of Technology ($15,725 vs. $16,142).
  • Rochester Institute of Technology is 316.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $45,054 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 53.2% higher at RIT than at George Mason University (about $20,586 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at George Mason University (98% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 172.9% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($35,077 vs. $12,852).

RIT vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RIT 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 RIT .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rochester Institute of Technology (1380) is 120 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming RIT students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RIT - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIT Jan 15, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RIT students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than RIT (66.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.3% at RIT vs. 20.2% at Mason.

RIT vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RIT 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).

  • The graduation rate at RIT is the same as at George Mason University (64% vs. 64%).
  • Graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,900 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $8,250 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($19,750 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($204 vs. $289).
  • More RIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.