West Point vs. Mason

Deciding between United States Military Academy 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.

United States Military Academy
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • West Point West Point, New York
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • West Point Large Suburban
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • West Point 4,473
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • West Point Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • West Point
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • West Point -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • West Point Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • West Point
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • West Point $0
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • West Point $0
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • West Point $0
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • West Point -
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • West Point $0
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • West Point 0%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • West Point 12,320
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • West Point 1,534
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • West Point 12.5%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • West Point 77.9%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • West Point 1320
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • West Point 30
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • West Point 4.0
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • West Point A/A+
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • West Point Very High
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • West Point Very High
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • West Point 27/33
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • West Point 1200/1430
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • West Point Required
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • West Point Jan 31, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • West Point 6:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • West Point
    • Engineering (21%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (6%)
    • Business (6%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • West Point 80%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • West Point N/A
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • West Point -
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • West Point N/A
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • West Point N/A
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • West Point 78%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • West Point 22%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • West Point -
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • West Point No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • West Point 0%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • West Point 0%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • West Point 0%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • West Point 0%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • West Point 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • West Point 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • West Point 0%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • West Point 0%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • West Point 0%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • West Point 7%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • West Point 92%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare United States Military Academy in West Point, New York 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 West Point based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 4,473 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • United States Military Academy is located in West Point, New York (Large Suburban setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • United States Military Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: United States Military Academy 6:1; George Mason University 16:1.

West Point vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, West Point or Mason? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • In-state tuition differs between George Mason University and West Point ($14,220.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between Mason and United States Military Academy ($38,688.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at United States Military Academy (71% vs. 0%).

West Point vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, West Point 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 West Point.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at United States Military Academy (1320) is 60 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming West Point 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: United States Military Academy 1200/1430; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Military Academy 27/33; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: West Point - Required; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: West Point Jan 31, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman West Point students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than West Point (12.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 77.9% at West Point vs. 20.2% at Mason.

West Point vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for West Point 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).

  • United States Military Academy's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).

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.