ASU vs. Mason

Deciding between Arizona State 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.

Arizona State University
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 52%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • ASU 48%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with George Mason University in Fairfax, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arizona State University is larger than Mason based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 39,766 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; George Mason University 16:1.

ASU vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU 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 Arizona State University than Mason ($17,779 vs. $18,823).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 5.9% lower than at Arizona State University ($15,725 vs. $16,712).
  • George Mason University is 16.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than ASU (about $1,997 more per year; $14,220.00 vs. $12,223.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.7% higher at Mason than at Arizona State University (about $5,549 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $33,139.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arizona State University than at George Mason University (89% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 5.6% larger than aid received by Arizona State University students ($12,852 vs. $12,172).

ASU vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU 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 ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at George Mason University (1260) is 50 points higher than at ASU (1210).
  • Incoming Mason students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 1100/1320; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 21/28; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at ASU (3.54).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Mason (87.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.1% at ASU vs. 20.2% at Mason.

ASU vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU 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 Arizona State University's (57%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $9,300 more per year than ASU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $528 lower median loan debt than ASU graduates ($19,750 vs. $20,278).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ASU graduates ($204 vs. $209).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 57%)

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.