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JMU Michigan State VCU UM-Dearborn Oakland Virginia Tech CNU Old Dominion UVA UMBC Detroit Mercy- UDM- U of D- University of Detroit Eastern Michigan University| Wayne State University | George Mason University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WSU | Mason | ||
| Location | Detroit, MI | Fairfax, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 23,630 | 39,049 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #582 | #228 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wayne.edu | gmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WSU | Mason | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,933 | $9,795 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,622 | $35,377 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,321 | $13,120 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,347 | $18,479 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,605 | $10,760 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 74% |
Admission |
WSU | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,002 | 20,001 | ||
| Admitted | 10,547 | 18,001 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 75.3% | 90% | ||
| Enrolled % | 24.4% | 23% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1040/1260 | 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 | Aug 1, 2025 | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
WSU | Mason | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WSU | Mason | ||
| Graduation Rate | 26% | 64% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,000 | $61,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 38% | 73% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,258 | $19,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $230 | $204 |
Diversity |
WSU | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 48% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 52% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 2% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 5% |
Students |
WSU | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 17% | ||
Campus |
WSU | 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 WSU based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 23,630 students)
WSU vs. Mason Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WSU or Mason?
- Wayne State University is 32% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($12,933.00 vs. $9,795.00)
- Out of state tuition is 19.4% higher at Mason than Wayne State University ($35,377.00 vs. $29,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than Mason ($15,347 vs. $18,479)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 15.9% lower than costs at George Mason University ($11,321 vs. $13,120)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Wayne State University than George Mason University (96% vs. 74%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 1.5% larger than aid received Wayne State University ($10,760 vs. $10,605)
WSU vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WSU or Mason? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mason or WSU .
- The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 83 points higher than at WSU (1070)
- Incoming Mason students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at WSU (23)
- Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at WSU (3.42)
- Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than WSU (75.3%)
WSU vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WSU 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 WSU.
- The graduation rate at Mason is higher than Wayne State University (64% vs. 26%)
- Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $10,900 more per year than WSU graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $51,000)
- George Mason University students graduate with a $2,508 lower median federal student loan debt than WSU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $22,258)
- Mason graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than WSU graduates. ($204 vs. $230)
- More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 38%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/