MVNU vs. Mason

Deciding between Mount Vernon Nazarene 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.

George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MVNU Mount Vernon, OH
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • MVNU Rural Fringe
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • MVNU 1,671
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • MVNU Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MVNU #556
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MVNU Church of the Nazarene
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • MVNU Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MVNU
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MVNU $37,158
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MVNU $37,158
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • MVNU $10,394
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • MVNU $22,961
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MVNU $26,886
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MVNU 100%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MVNU 1,230
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • MVNU 1,035
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MVNU 84.1%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • MVNU 29.3%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MVNU 1180
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • MVNU 21
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • MVNU 3.55
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MVNU A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MVNU Average
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • MVNU
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • MVNU 18/25
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • MVNU 1046/1315
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MVNU Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MVNU
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MVNU 13:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MVNU
    • Business (44%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Human Services (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MVNU 57%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MVNU $46,100
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MVNU 65%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MVNU $26,536
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MVNU $274
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MVNU 44%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • MVNU 56%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MVNU Very Low
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • MVNU No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • MVNU 85%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • MVNU 0%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • MVNU 5%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • MVNU 2%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • MVNU 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MVNU 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MVNU 2%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • MVNU 1%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MVNU 5%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MVNU 86%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MVNU 10%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Mount Vernon, OH 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 MVNU based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 1,671 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Vernon Nazarene University is located in Mount Vernon, OH (Rural Fringe setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Vernon Nazarene University 13:1; George Mason University 16:1.

MVNU vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MVNU 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 MVNU ($18,823 vs. $22,961).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Vernon Nazarene University are 33.9% lower than at George Mason University ($10,394 vs. $15,725).
  • Mount Vernon Nazarene University is 161.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $22,938 more per year; $37,158.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at Mason than at Mount Vernon Nazarene University (about $1,530 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $37,158.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Vernon Nazarene University than at George Mason University (100% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Vernon Nazarene University students is 109.2% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($26,886 vs. $12,852).

MVNU vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MVNU 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 MVNU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at George Mason University (1260) is 80 points higher than at MVNU (1180).
  • Incoming Mason students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 21 at MVNU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Vernon Nazarene University 1046/1315; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Vernon Nazarene University 18/25; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MVNU - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at MVNU (3.55).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than MVNU (84.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.3% at MVNU vs. 20.2% at Mason.

MVNU vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MVNU 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 Mount Vernon Nazarene University's (57%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $15,800 more per year than MVNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $46,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $6,786 lower median loan debt than MVNU graduates ($19,750 vs. $26,536).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MVNU graduates ($204 vs. $274).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MVNU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 65%)

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.