Wake Forest vs. Mason

Deciding between Wake Forest University 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.

Wake Forest University
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Wake Forest Midsize City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Wake Forest 9,322
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Wake Forest Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wake Forest #49
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wake Forest -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Wake Forest Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wake Forest
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Wake Forest $18,494
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Wake Forest $24,401
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wake Forest $63,117
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wake Forest 35%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wake Forest 18,727
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Wake Forest 4,058
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wake Forest 21.7%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Wake Forest 36.1%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wake Forest 1470
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wake Forest 33
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wake Forest -
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wake Forest -
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wake Forest Exceptional
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wake Forest Very High
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Wake Forest 32/34
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Wake Forest 1410/1520
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wake Forest Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wake Forest 10:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wake Forest
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wake Forest $77,200
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wake Forest $23,000
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wake Forest $237
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wake Forest 43%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Wake Forest 57%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wake Forest Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Wake Forest No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Wake Forest 72%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Wake Forest 5%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Wake Forest 6%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wake Forest 3%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wake Forest 12%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wake Forest 84%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC 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 Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 9,322 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wake Forest University 10:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Wake Forest vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest ($18,823 vs. $24,401).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 15% lower than at Wake Forest University ($15,725 vs. $18,494).
  • Wake Forest University is 375.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $53,422 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.8% higher at Wake Forest than at George Mason University (about $28,954 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at Wake Forest University (71% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 391.1% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($63,117 vs. $12,852).

Wake Forest vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wake Forest University (1470) is 210 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Wake Forest students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 1410/1520; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 32/34; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wake Forest - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Wake Forest (21.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Wake Forest vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Wake Forest vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wake Forest 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).

  • Wake Forest University's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from Wake Forest University earn a median of about $15,300 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than Wake Forest graduates ($19,750 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wake Forest graduates ($204 vs. $237).
  • More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.