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JMU ASU VCU UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill Virginia Tech ECU CNU Old Dominion UVA UMBC UNCG| University of North Carolina at Wilmington | George Mason University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UNCW | Mason | ||
| Location | Wilmington, NC | Fairfax, VA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 17,987 | 39,527 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #390 | #239 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uncw.edu | gmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UNCW | Mason | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,443 | $10,095 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,111 | $35,677 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,605 | $15,151 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,606 | $18,900 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,516 | $11,311 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 54% | 72% |
Admission |
UNCW | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,370 | 22,579 | ||
| Admitted | 12,856 | 20,057 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74% | 88.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 22.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.56 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 24/28 | 25/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1360 | 1140/1340 | ||
| 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 | Feb 1, 2026 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
UNCW | Mason | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UNCW | Mason | ||
| Graduation Rate | 67% | 64% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,700 | $61,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 73% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $19,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $204 |
Diversity |
UNCW | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 13% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 1% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 5% |
Students |
UNCW | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 16% | ||
Campus |
UNCW | Mason | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- George Mason University is larger than than UNCW based on total student enrollment (39,527 students vs. 17,987 students)
UNCW vs. Mason Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UNCW or Mason?
- George Mason University is 127.2% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($10,095.00 vs. $4,443.00)
- Out of state tuition is 77.4% higher at Mason than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($35,677.00 vs. $20,111.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than Mason ($18,606 vs. $18,900)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Wilmington are 20.2% lower than costs at George Mason University ($12,605 vs. $15,151)
- More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (72% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 73.6% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($11,311 vs. $6,516)
UNCW vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UNCW or Mason? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mason or UNCW .
- The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Wilmington (1162) is 9 points higher than at Mason (1153)
- Incoming Mason students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at UNCW (25)
- Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at UNCW (3.56)
- Mason has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than UNCW (74%)
UNCW vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UNCW 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 UNCW.
- The graduation rate at UNCW is higher than George Mason University (67% vs. 64%)
- Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $17,200 more per year than UNCW graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $44,700)
- George Mason University students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than UNCW graduates. ($19,750 vs. $20,500)
- Mason graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than UNCW graduates. ($204 vs. $211)
- More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCW students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 64%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/