NYU vs. Mason

Deciding between New York 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 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

New York University
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • NYU Large City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Enrollment
  • NYU 56,832
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NYU #43
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NYU -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NYU
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • NYU $23,530
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • NYU $30,325
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NYU $53,901
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NYU 37%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NYU 110,807
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • NYU 10,232
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NYU 1520
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • NYU 34
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • NYU 3.79
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NYU A-
  • Mason B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • NYU Elite
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • NYU Extreme
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • NYU 34/35
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NYU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Mason Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • NYU
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NYU 8:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NYU 86%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NYU $76,000
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NYU 77%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NYU $23,250
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NYU $240
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NYU 21%
  • Mason 12%
  • % Women
  • NYU 28%
  • Mason 16%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NYU Very High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • NYU No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • NYU 34%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • NYU 20%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • NYU 5%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • NYU 12%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • NYU 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NYU 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NYU 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • NYU 17%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NYU 8%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NYU 26%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NYU 49%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare New York University in New York, NY with George Mason University in Fairfax, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

New York University is larger than Mason based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 39,766 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

NYU vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NYU 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 NYU ($18,823 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 33.2% lower than at New York University ($15,725 vs. $23,530).
  • New York University is 341.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $48,576 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 62.3% higher at NYU than at George Mason University (about $24,108 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at New York University (71% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New York University students is 319.4% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($53,901 vs. $12,852).

NYU vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NYU 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 NYU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 260 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming NYU students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 1480/1560; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 34/35; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NYU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Mason - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NYU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.4% at NYU vs. 20.2% at Mason.

NYU vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NYU 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).

  • New York University's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $14,100 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($19,750 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($204 vs. $240).
  • More NYU 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.