Syracuse vs. Mason

Deciding between Syracuse 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.

Syracuse University
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Syracuse #158
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Syracuse -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Syracuse
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Syracuse 76%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Syracuse 30
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Syracuse A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Syracuse Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Syracuse $279
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Syracuse 44%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Syracuse High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Syracuse No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Syracuse 55%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Syracuse 11%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Syracuse 1%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Syracuse 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Syracuse 3%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Syracuse 12%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Syracuse 2%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Syracuse 31%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Syracuse 63%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Syracuse University in Syracuse, 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 Syracuse based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 22,589 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Syracuse University is located in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Syracuse University 15:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Syracuse vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse 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 Syracuse ($18,823 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 18% lower than at Syracuse University ($15,725 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 360.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $51,308 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 69.4% higher at Syracuse than at George Mason University (about $26,840 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at George Mason University (76% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 183.4% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($36,417 vs. $12,852).

Syracuse vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Syracuse 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 Syracuse.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Syracuse University (1360) is 100 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Syracuse 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: Syracuse University 1270/1440; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 29/32; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Syracuse - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Syracuse students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Syracuse vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Syracuse vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Syracuse 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).

  • Syracuse University's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $7,250 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($19,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($204 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.