Tennessee vs. Mason

Should I go to The University of Tennessee or George Mason University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Tennessee or Mason is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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The University of Tennessee vs. George Mason University comparison
The University of Tennessee George Mason University College 3 College 4
The University of Tennessee George Mason University
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Overview

Tennessee Mason
Location Knoxville, TN Fairfax, VA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 33,805 39,049
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #232 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website tennessee.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Tennessee Mason
Tuition (In State) $11,332 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $29,522 $35,377
Room & Board $12,150 $13,120
Avg Net Price $21,880 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $10,593 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 88% 74%

Admission

Tennessee Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 36,290 20,001
Admitted 24,826 18,001
Acceptance Rate 68.4% 90%
Enrolled % 27.6% 23%
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 25/31
SAT Range 1170/1330 1140/1350
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Tennessee Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

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 45% 48%
% Women 55% 52%
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 54% 77%
% Out-of-State 45% 17%

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 (39,049 students vs. 33,805 students)

Tennessee vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tennessee or Mason?

  • The University of Tennessee is 15.7% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($11,332.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.8% higher at Mason than The University of Tennessee ($35,377.00 vs. $29,522.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Tennessee ($18,479 vs. $21,880)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee are 8% lower than costs at George Mason University ($12,150 vs. $13,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Tennessee than George Mason University (88% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 1.6% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee ($10,760 vs. $10,593)

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 (90%) than Tennessee (68.4%)

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/