KU vs. Mason

Should I go to University of Kansas or George Mason University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if KU 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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University of Kansas vs. George Mason University comparison
University of Kansas George Mason University College 3 College 4
University of Kansas George Mason University
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Overview

 KU Mason
Location Lawrence, KS Fairfax, VA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 26,708 39,049
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #252 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ku.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 KU Mason
Tuition (In State) $10,092 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $26,960 $35,377
Room & Board $10,136 $13,120
Avg Net Price $18,950 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $11,140 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 74%

Admission

 KU Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,204 20,001
Admitted 14,234 18,001
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 90%
Enrolled % 31.3% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 25/31
SAT Range 1090/1340 1140/1350
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 KU Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 KU Mason
Graduation Rate 61% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,600 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $211 $204

Diversity

 KU Mason
% Men 45% 48%
% Women 55% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 72% 43%
% Black 4% 11%
% Hispanic 7% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 6% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

 KU Mason
% In-State 58% 77%
% Out-of-State 39% 17%

Campus

 KU Mason
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than KU based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 26,708 students)

KU vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or Mason?

  • University of Kansas is 3% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($10,092.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31.2% higher at Mason than University of Kansas ($35,377.00 vs. $26,960.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than KU ($18,479 vs. $18,950)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 29.4% lower than costs at George Mason University ($10,136 vs. $13,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Kansas than George Mason University (87% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 3.5% larger than aid received George Mason University ($11,140 vs. $10,760)

KU vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KU or Mason? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mason or KU .

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 8 points higher than at KU (1145)
  • Incoming Mason students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at KU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at KU (3.66)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than KU (87.8%)

KU vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, KU 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 KU.

  • The graduation rate at Mason is higher than University of Kansas (64% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $7,300 more per year than KU graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $54,600)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than KU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $20,500)
  • Mason graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than KU graduates. ($204 vs. $211)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/