Drexel vs. Mason

Deciding between Drexel 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.

Drexel University
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Drexel Large City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Drexel 21,153
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Drexel #118
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Drexel -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Drexel
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Drexel $18,096
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Drexel $42,801
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Drexel $35,051
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Drexel 100%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Drexel 37,314
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Drexel 29,642
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Drexel 1340
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Drexel 29
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Drexel 3.67
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Drexel A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Drexel Very High
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Drexel
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Drexel 27/32
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Drexel Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Drexel 9:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Drexel 68%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Drexel $77,400
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Drexel 77%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Drexel $26,243
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Drexel $271
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Drexel 46%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Drexel 54%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Drexel High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Drexel No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Drexel 54%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Drexel 14%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Drexel 7%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Drexel 6%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Drexel 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Drexel 1%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Drexel 3%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Drexel 13%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Drexel 2%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Drexel 46%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Drexel 44%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Drexel University in Philadelphia, 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 Drexel based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 21,153 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Drexel University is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Drexel University 9:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Drexel vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drexel 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 Drexel ($18,823 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 13.1% lower than at Drexel University ($15,725 vs. $18,096).
  • Drexel University is 338.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $48,192 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 61.3% higher at Drexel than at George Mason University (about $23,724 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at George Mason University (100% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drexel University students is 172.7% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($35,051 vs. $12,852).

Drexel vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Drexel 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 Drexel.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Drexel University (1340) is 80 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Drexel students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 1240/1440; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 27/32; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drexel - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Drexel Jan 15, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Drexel (3.67).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Drexel (79.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.1% at Drexel vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Drexel vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drexel 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).

  • Drexel University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from Drexel University earn a median of about $15,500 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,400 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $6,493 lower median loan debt than Drexel graduates ($19,750 vs. $26,243).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drexel graduates ($204 vs. $271).
  • More Drexel graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.