Pitt vs. Mason

Deciding between University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
George Mason University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Pitt Large City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Pitt #138
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Pitt -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Pitt
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Pitt $16,494
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Pitt 53%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Pitt 13%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pitt 1370
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pitt 31
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Pitt A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Pitt Very High
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Pitt Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Pitt 29/33
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Pitt Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Pitt
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Pitt 79%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Pitt 75%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Pitt $278
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Pitt 42%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Pitt 58%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Pitt Low
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Pitt No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Pitt 74%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Pitt 9%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Pitt 5%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Pitt 3%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Pitt 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Pitt 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Pitt 3%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Pitt 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Pitt 1%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Pitt 64%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Pitt 33%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in Pittsburgh, PA 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 Pitt based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 35,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Pitt vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitt 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 George Mason University than Pitt ($18,823 vs. $25,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 13.4% lower than at George Mason University ($13,620 vs. $15,725).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 54.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $7,706 more per year; $21,926.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.1% higher at Pitt than at George Mason University (about $2,742 more per year; $41,430.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (71% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students is 28.3% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($16,494 vs. $12,852).

Pitt vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pitt 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 Pitt.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (1370) is 110 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Pitt students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitt - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pitt students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Pitt (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13% at Pitt vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Pitt vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitt 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).

  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $7,159 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($19,750 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($204 vs. $278).
  • More Pitt graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 73%)

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.