Davidson vs. Mason

Davidson College and George Mason University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Davidson College
George Mason University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Davidson (13.4% admitted vs 87.5%). Typical SAT 1470 vs 1260.
  • Cheaper after aid: Mason. Average net price is $18,823 vs $27,720 at Davidson.
  • Graduation: Davidson 92% vs Mason 64%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Davidson $63,500 vs Mason $61,900 (median).
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Key differences

Davidson College George Mason University
Acceptance rate
Davidson more selective
Davidson13.4%
Mason87.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Davidson higher
Davidson1400-1530
Mason1160-1360
Average net price
Mason $8,897 less
Davidson$27,720
Mason$18,823
In-state tuition
Mason $50,190 less
Davidson$64,410
Mason$14,220
Out-of-state tuition
Mason $25,722 less
Davidson$64,410
Mason$38,688
Graduation rate
Davidson +28 pts
Davidson92%
Mason64%
Median earnings (10 years)
Davidson +$1,600
Davidson$63,500
Mason$61,900

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Davidson 8,114
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Davidson 1,085
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance rate
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Davidson 1470
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Davidson 32
  • Mason 27
  • Average high school GPA
  • Davidson 3.81
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical high school grades
  • Davidson A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • Davidson Very High
  • Mason
  • SAT range
  • Davidson 1400-1530
  • Mason 1160-1360
  • ACT range
  • Davidson 31-34
  • Mason 25-30
  • Submit test scores
  • Davidson Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & board
  • Davidson $17,100
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average net price
  • Davidson $27,720
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average grant aid
  • Davidson $51,755
  • Mason $12,852
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Davidson 65%
  • Mason 71%
  • Graduation rate
  • Davidson 92%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Davidson $63,500
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making student loan payments
  • Davidson 89%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Davidson $17,000
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median loan payment
  • Davidson $175
  • Mason $204
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Davidson 8:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Location
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Davidson 1,869
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Davidson #32
  • Mason #243

Comparable Facts

Compare Davidson College in Davidson, NC with George Mason University in Fairfax, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

George Mason University is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 1,869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 8% lower than at Davidson College ($15,725 vs. $17,100).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 66.5% higher at Davidson than at George Mason University (about $25,722 more per year; $64,410 vs. $38,688).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at Davidson College (71% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 302.7% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($51,755 vs. $12,852).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Davidson than at Mason (32 vs. 27, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Davidson and Mason.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Davidson average a 3.81 high school GPA, 0.13 higher than at Mason (3.68).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than Mason graduates ($17,000 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mason graduates ($175 vs. $204).
  • More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 73%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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