Auburn vs. Mason

Deciding between Auburn 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.

Auburn University
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Auburn Auburn, AL
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Auburn Small City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Auburn 34,145
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Auburn Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Auburn #301
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Auburn -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Auburn Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Auburn
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Auburn $12,890
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Auburn $34,922
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Auburn $16,626
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Auburn $25,242
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Auburn $10,872
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Auburn 80%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Auburn 55,056
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Auburn 25,284
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Auburn 45.9%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Auburn 24.1%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Auburn 1330
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Auburn 28
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Auburn 3.97
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Auburn A
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Auburn Very High
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Auburn Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Auburn 26/31
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Auburn 1260/1390
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Auburn Required
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Auburn Feb 1, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Auburn 21:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Auburn
    • Business (22%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Auburn 66%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Auburn $54,100
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Auburn 73%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Auburn $21,500
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Auburn $222
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Auburn 49%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Auburn 51%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Auburn Very Low
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Auburn No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Auburn 84%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Auburn 2%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Auburn 7%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Auburn 3%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Auburn 1%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Auburn 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Auburn 1%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Auburn 1%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Auburn 1%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Auburn 53%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Auburn 46%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Auburn University in Auburn, AL 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 Auburn based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 34,145 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Auburn University is located in Auburn, AL (Small City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Auburn University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Auburn University 21:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Auburn vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Auburn 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 Auburn ($18,823 vs. $25,242).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 5.4% lower than at Auburn University ($15,725 vs. $16,626).
  • George Mason University is 10.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Auburn (about $1,330 more per year; $14,220.00 vs. $12,890.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.8% higher at Mason than at Auburn University (about $3,766 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $34,922.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Auburn University than at George Mason University (80% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 18.2% larger than aid received by Auburn University students ($12,852 vs. $10,872).

Auburn vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Auburn 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 Auburn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Auburn University (1330) is 70 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Auburn students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Auburn University 1260/1390; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Auburn University 26/31; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Auburn - Required; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Auburn Feb 1, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Auburn students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Auburn (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.1% at Auburn vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Auburn vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Auburn 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).

  • Auburn University's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than Auburn graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $54,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Auburn graduates ($19,750 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Auburn graduates ($204 vs. $222).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Auburn students, three years after graduation. (73% 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.