Wright State vs. Mason

Deciding between Wright State University Main 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.

Wright State University Main Campus
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wright State Dayton, OH
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Wright State Large Suburban
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Wright State 10,603
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Wright State Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wright State #832
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wright State -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Wright State Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wright State
  • Mason
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wright State $11,522
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wright State $21,222
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Wright State $11,250
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Wright State $15,254
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wright State $8,942
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wright State 92%
  • Mason 71%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wright State 8,855
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Wright State 8,530
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wright State 96.3% Open
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Wright State 20.4% Open
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wright State 1070
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wright State 21
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wright State 3.41
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wright State B+
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wright State Moderate
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wright State
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Wright State 17/25
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Wright State 913/1230
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wright State Open admission
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wright State Aug 23, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wright State 16:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wright State
    • Business (29%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wright State 40%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wright State $43,400
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wright State 51%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wright State $25,000
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wright State $258
  • Mason $204
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wright State 46%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Wright State 54%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wright State Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Wright State No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Wright State 72%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Wright State 2%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Wright State 12%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wright State 3%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Wright State 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wright State 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wright State 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Wright State 5%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wright State 0%
  • Mason 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wright State 82%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wright State 4%
  • Mason 14%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Wright State University Main Campus in Dayton, OH 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 Wright State based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 10,603 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wright State University Main Campus is located in Dayton, OH (Large Suburban setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Wright State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wright State University Main Campus 16:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Wright State vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wright State 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 Wright State University Main Campus than Mason ($15,254 vs. $18,823).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wright State University Main Campus are 28.5% lower than at George Mason University ($11,250 vs. $15,725).
  • George Mason University is 23.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wright State (about $2,698 more per year; $14,220.00 vs. $11,522.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 82.3% higher at Mason than at Wright State University Main Campus (about $17,466 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $21,222.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wright State University Main Campus than at George Mason University (92% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 43.7% larger than aid received by Wright State University Main Campus students ($12,852 vs. $8,942).

Wright State vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wright State 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 Wright State.

  • Wright State University Main Campus reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at George Mason University (1260) is 190 points higher than at Wright State (1070).
  • Incoming Mason students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 21 at Wright State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wright State University Main Campus 913/1230; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wright State University Main Campus 17/25; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wright State - Open admission; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wright State Aug 23, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Wright State (3.41).
  • Wright State has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Mason (87.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at Wright State vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Wright State vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wright State 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 Wright State University Main Campus's (40%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $18,500 more per year than Wright State graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $43,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $5,250 lower median loan debt than Wright State graduates ($19,750 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wright State graduates ($204 vs. $258).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wright State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 51%)

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.