UIC vs. Mason

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago 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.

University of Illinois Chicago
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, IL 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 UIC based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 33,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; George Mason University 16:1.

UIC vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC 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 University of Illinois Chicago than Mason ($10,852 vs. $18,823).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 4.7% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($15,725 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 0.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $118 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.5% higher at Mason than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $8,804 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Chicago than at George Mason University (74% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 30.4% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($16,755 vs. $12,852).

UIC vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC 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 UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at George Mason University (1260) is 20 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than UIC (77.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 20.2% at Mason.

UIC vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC 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).

  • George Mason University's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates of University of Illinois Chicago and Mason have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $61,900), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Mason graduates ($18,750 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mason graduates ($193 vs. $204).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 68%)

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.