Union College vs. Mason

Deciding between Union College 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.

Union College
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Union College Schenectady, NY
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Union College Small City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Union College 2,065
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Union College Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Union College #84
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Union College -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Union College Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Union College
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Union College $69,039
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Union College $69,039
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Union College $17,010
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Union College $42,137
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Union College $42,534
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Union College 96%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Union College 8,210
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Union College 3,606
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Union College 43.9%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Union College 13.9%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Union College 1400
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Union College 31
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Union College 3.5
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Union College A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Union College Exceptional
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Union College Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Union College 29/33
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Union College 1310/1480
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Union College Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Union College Jan 15, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Union College 9:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Union College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Union College 86%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Union College $74,200
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Union College 86%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Union College $27,000
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Union College $279
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Union College 53%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Union College 47%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Union College Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Union College No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Union College 73%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Union College 6%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Union College 4%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Union College 7%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Union College 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Union College 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Union College 2%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Union College 7%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Union College 0%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Union College 28%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Union College 57%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Union College in Schenectady, 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 Union College based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 2,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Union College is located in Schenectady, NY (Small City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Union College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Union College 9:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Union College vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Union College 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 Union College ($18,823 vs. $42,137).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 7.6% lower than at Union College ($15,725 vs. $17,010).
  • Union College is 385.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $54,819 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 78.5% higher at Union College than at George Mason University (about $30,351 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Union College than at George Mason University (96% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 231% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($42,534 vs. $12,852).

Union College vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Union College 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 Union College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Union College (1400) is 140 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Union College 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: Union College 1310/1480; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Union College 29/33; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Union College - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Union College Jan 15, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Union College (3.5).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Union College (43.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Union College vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Union College vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Union College 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).

  • Union College's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from Union College earn a median of about $12,300 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,200 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 Union College graduates ($19,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Union College graduates ($204 vs. $279).
  • More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.