MHC vs. Mason

Deciding between Mount Holyoke College 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.

Mount Holyoke College
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MHC 85%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA 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 MHC based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; George Mason University 16:1.

MHC vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC 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 MHC ($18,823 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 20.1% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($15,725 vs. $19,684).
  • Mount Holyoke College is 371.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $52,798 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 73.2% higher at MHC than at George Mason University (about $28,330 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at George Mason University (77% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Holyoke College students is 307.9% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($52,418 vs. $12,852).

MHC vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC 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 MHC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Mount Holyoke College (1460) is 200 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming MHC students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MHC students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than MHC (36%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 20.2% at Mason.

MHC vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC 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).

  • Mount Holyoke College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $11,900 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $1,456 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($19,750 vs. $21,206).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($204 vs. $219).
  • More MHC 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.