Wilkes vs. Mason

Deciding between Wilkes 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.

Wilkes University
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wilkes Wilkes-Barre, PA
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Wilkes Small City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Wilkes 5,381
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Wilkes Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wilkes #414
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wilkes -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Wilkes Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wilkes
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wilkes $43,496
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wilkes $43,496
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Wilkes $16,166
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Wilkes $28,511
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wilkes $28,324
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wilkes 100%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wilkes 7,660
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Wilkes 6,943
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wilkes 90.6%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Wilkes 9.3%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wilkes 1140
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wilkes 25
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wilkes 3.56
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wilkes A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wilkes Challenging
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wilkes
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Wilkes 22/29
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Wilkes 1020/1250
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wilkes Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wilkes
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wilkes 13:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wilkes
    • Business (18%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wilkes 58%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wilkes $58,200
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wilkes 75%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wilkes $26,000
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wilkes $268
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wilkes 32%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Wilkes 68%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wilkes Low
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Wilkes No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Wilkes 73%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Wilkes 3%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Wilkes 4%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wilkes 6%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Wilkes 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wilkes 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wilkes 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Wilkes 9%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wilkes 2%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wilkes 65%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wilkes 20%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, 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 Wilkes based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 5,381 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wilkes University is located in Wilkes-Barre, PA (Small City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Wilkes University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wilkes University 13:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Wilkes vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wilkes 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 Wilkes ($18,823 vs. $28,511).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 2.7% lower than at Wilkes University ($15,725 vs. $16,166).
  • Wilkes University is 205.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $29,276 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at Wilkes than at George Mason University (about $4,808 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes University than at George Mason University (100% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 120.4% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($28,324 vs. $12,852).

Wilkes vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wilkes 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 Wilkes.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at George Mason University (1260) is 120 points higher than at Wilkes (1140).
  • Incoming Mason students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Wilkes).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wilkes University 1020/1250; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wilkes University 22/29; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wilkes - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Wilkes (3.56).
  • Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (90.6%) than Mason (87.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at Wilkes vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Wilkes vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wilkes 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).

  • George Mason University's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Wilkes University's (58%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than Wilkes graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $58,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $6,250 lower median loan debt than Wilkes graduates ($19,750 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wilkes graduates ($204 vs. $268).
  • More Wilkes 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.