U of R vs. Mason

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

 U of R Mason
Location Rochester, NY Fairfax, VA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 12,197 39,049
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #53 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rochester.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 U of R Mason
Tuition (In State) $60,550 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $60,550 $35,377
Room & Board $18,232 $13,120
Avg Net Price $39,775 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $39,715 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 71% 74%

Admission

 U of R Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,966 20,001
Admitted 7,768 18,001
Acceptance Rate 38.9% 90%
Enrolled % 20.9% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 31/34 25/31
SAT Range 1390/1540 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 Jan 5, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 U of R Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 U of R Mason
Graduation Rate 83% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $71,000 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $253 $204

Diversity

 U of R Mason
% Men 47% 48%
% Women 53% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 48% 43%
% Black 5% 11%
% Hispanic 7% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 18% 5%
% Unknown Race 7% 5%

Students

 U of R Mason
% In-State 25% 77%
% Out-of-State 44% 17%

Campus

 U of R Mason
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes 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 U of R based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 12,197 students)

U of R vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, U of R or Mason?

  • University of Rochester is 518.2% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($60,550.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 71.2% higher at U of R than George Mason University ($60,550.00 vs. $35,377.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than U of R ($18,479 vs. $39,775)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 39% lower than costs at University of Rochester ($13,120 vs. $18,232)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than University of Rochester (74% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rochester students is 269.1% larger than aid received George Mason University ($39,715 vs. $10,760)

U of R vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman U of R 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 U of R (38.9%)

U of R vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, U of R 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 U of R.

  • The graduation rate at U of R is higher than George Mason University (83% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from University of Rochester earn on average $9,100 more per year than Mason graduates after ten years. ($71,000 vs. $61,900)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $4,750 lower median federal student loan debt than U of R graduates. ($19,750 vs. $24,500)
  • Mason graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than U of R graduates. ($204 vs. $253)
  • More U of R graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 73%)

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