UMBC vs. Mason

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County 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 Maryland Baltimore County
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore, MD 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 UMBC based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 13,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County 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 Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; George Mason University 16:1.

UMBC vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC 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 Maryland Baltimore County than Mason ($18,770 vs. $18,823).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 3.7% lower than at George Mason University ($15,146 vs. $15,725).
  • George Mason University is 7.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $964 more per year; $14,220.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.7% higher at Mason than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $7,413 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at George Mason University (88% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 26% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($12,852 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMBC 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 UMBC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1330) is 70 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming UMBC 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 Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than UMBC (72.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 20.2% at Mason.

UMBC vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC 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 Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than UMBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $1,447 lower median loan debt than UMBC graduates ($19,750 vs. $21,197).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMBC graduates ($204 vs. $219).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 67%)

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.