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JMU Auburn Alabama VCU Kentucky Virginia Tech CNU Clemson Old Dominion Ole Miss UVA UMBC| The University of Tennessee | George Mason University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Tennessee | Mason | ||
| Location | Knoxville, TN | Fairfax, VA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 36,304 | 39,527 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #222 | #239 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | tennessee.edu | gmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Tennessee | Mason | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,332 | $10,095 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,522 | $35,677 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,500 | $15,151 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,885 | $18,900 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,491 | $11,311 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 85% | 72% |
Admission |
Tennessee | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 50,488 | 22,579 | ||
| Admitted | 23,221 | 20,057 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 46% | 88.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.8% | 22.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.66 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/31 | 25/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1340 | 1140/1340 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Tennessee | Mason | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Tennessee | Mason | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 64% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,300 | $61,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 73% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,000 | $19,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $206 | $204 |
Diversity |
Tennessee | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 13% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 1% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 5% |
Students |
Tennessee | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 58% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 41% | 16% | ||
Campus |
Tennessee | 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 Tennessee based on total student enrollment (39,527 students vs. 36,304 students)
Tennessee vs. Mason Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Tennessee or Mason?
- The University of Tennessee is 12.3% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($11,332.00 vs. $10,095.00)
- Out of state tuition is 20.8% higher at Mason than The University of Tennessee ($35,677.00 vs. $29,522.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Tennessee ($18,900 vs. $20,885)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee are 21.2% lower than costs at George Mason University ($12,500 vs. $15,151)
- More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Tennessee than George Mason University (85% vs. 72%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Tennessee students is 1.6% larger than aid received George Mason University ($11,491 vs. $11,311)
Tennessee vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Tennessee or Mason? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mason or Tennessee .
- The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee (1214) is 61 points higher than at Mason (1153)
- Incoming Tennessee students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Mason (26)
- Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Tennessee (3.66)
- Mason has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Tennessee (46%)
Tennessee vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Tennessee 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 Tennessee.
- The graduation rate at Mason is higher than The University of Tennessee (64% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $5,600 more per year than Tennessee graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $56,300)
- George Mason University students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than Tennessee graduates. ($19,750 vs. $20,000)
- Mason graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Tennessee graduates. ($204 vs. $206)
- More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/