OU vs. Mason

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

 OU Mason
Location Norman, OK Fairfax, VA
Setting Small Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 29,145 39,527
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #223 #239
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ou.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 OU Mason
Tuition (In State) $5,070 $10,095
Tuition (Out of State) $22,140 $35,677
Room & Board $13,310 $15,151
Avg Net Price $19,900 $18,900
Avg Grant Aid $10,830 $11,311
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 72%

Admission

 OU Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,337 22,579
Admitted 17,097 20,057
Acceptance Rate 76.5% 88.8%
Enrolled % 30.4% 22.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 25/30
SAT Range 1140/1330 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

 OU Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 OU Mason
Graduation Rate 67% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,300 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,000 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $206 $204

Diversity

 OU Mason
% Men 10% 13%
% Women 14% 17%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 43%
% Black 5% 11%
% Hispanic 9% 13%
% Native American 4% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 5%
% International 4% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

 OU Mason
% In-State 50% 77%
% Out-of-State 48% 16%

Campus

 OU 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 OU based on total student enrollment (39,527 students vs. 29,145 students)

OU vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OU or Mason?

  • George Mason University is 99.1% more expensive to attend than OU for in-state tuition ($10,095.00 vs. $5,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 61.1% higher at Mason than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($35,677.00 vs. $22,140.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than OU ($18,900 vs. $19,900)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus are 13.8% lower than costs at George Mason University ($13,310 vs. $15,151)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than George Mason University (99% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 4.4% larger than aid received University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($11,311 vs. $10,830)

OU vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (1204) is 51 points higher than at Mason (1153)
  • Incoming OU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Mason (26)
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at OU (3.66)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than OU (76.5%)

OU vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, OU 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 OU.

  • The graduation rate at OU is higher than George Mason University (67% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $2,600 more per year than OU graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $59,300)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than OU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $20,000)
  • Mason graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than OU graduates. ($204 vs. $206)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU 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/