UNCSA vs. Mason

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

UNCSA Mason
Location Winston-Salem, NC Fairfax, VA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,104 39,049
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #291 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uncsa.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UNCSA Mason
Tuition (In State) $6,497 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $23,731 $35,377
Room & Board $12,902 $13,120
Avg Net Price $11,251 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $10,868 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 69% 74%

Admission

UNCSA Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,139 20,001
Admitted 362 18,001
Acceptance Rate 31.8% 90%
Enrolled % 58% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 22/30 25/31
SAT Range 1115/1350 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 Mar 15, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

UNCSA Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

UNCSA Mason
Graduation Rate 58% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,100 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $279 $204

Diversity

UNCSA Mason
% Men 41% 48%
% Women 59% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 72% 43%
% Black 9% 11%
% Hispanic 8% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

UNCSA Mason
% In-State 43% 77%
% Out-of-State 52% 17%

Campus

UNCSA 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 UNCSA based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 1,104 students)

UNCSA vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNCSA or Mason?

  • George Mason University is 50.8% more expensive to attend than UNCSA for in-state tuition ($9,795.00 vs. $6,497.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 49.1% higher at Mason than University of North Carolina School of the Arts ($35,377.00 vs. $23,731.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina School of the Arts than Mason ($11,251 vs. $18,479)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina School of the Arts are 1.7% lower than costs at George Mason University ($12,902 vs. $13,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than University of North Carolina School of the Arts (74% vs. 69%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina School of the Arts students is 1% larger than aid received George Mason University ($10,868 vs. $10,760)

UNCSA vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 45 points higher than at UNCSA (1108)
  • Incoming Mason students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at UNCSA (24)
  • Accepted freshman UNCSA students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Mason (3.68)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than UNCSA (31.8%)

UNCSA vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UNCSA 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 UNCSA.

  • The graduation rate at Mason is higher than University of North Carolina School of the Arts (64% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $22,800 more per year than UNCSA graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $39,100)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $7,250 lower median federal student loan debt than UNCSA graduates. ($19,750 vs. $27,000)
  • Mason graduates are paying $75 less per month on federal student loans than UNCSA graduates. ($204 vs. $279)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCSA students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 56%)

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