OSU vs. Mason

Deciding between Oregon State 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.

Oregon State University
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • OSU Corvallis, OR
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • OSU Small City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • OSU 37,163
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • OSU Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • OSU #336
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • OSU -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • OSU Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • OSU
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • OSU $14,400
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • OSU $38,190
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • OSU $16,386
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • OSU $22,467
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • OSU $11,230
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • OSU 90%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • OSU 30,293
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • OSU 23,418
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • OSU 77.3%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • OSU 20.4%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • OSU 1270
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • OSU 27
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • OSU 3.61
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • OSU B+
  • Mason B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • OSU Very High
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • OSU
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • OSU 24/31
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • OSU 1140/1400
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • OSU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Mason Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • OSU Feb 1, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • OSU 18:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • OSU
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Work and Family Studies (11%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (6%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • OSU 61%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • OSU $53,900
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • OSU 66%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • OSU $23,500
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • OSU $242
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • OSU 50%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • OSU 50%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • OSU Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • OSU No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • OSU 67%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • OSU 7%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • OSU 1%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • OSU 9%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • OSU 1%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • OSU 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • OSU 7%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • OSU 6%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • OSU 2%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • OSU 55%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • OSU 42%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR 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 OSU based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 37,163 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Oregon State University is located in Corvallis, OR (Small City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Oregon State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Oregon State University 18:1; George Mason University 16:1.

OSU vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OSU 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 OSU ($18,823 vs. $22,467).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 4% lower than at Oregon State University ($15,725 vs. $16,386).
  • Oregon State University is 1.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $180 more per year; $14,400.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at Mason than at Oregon State University (about $498 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $38,190.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oregon State University than at George Mason University (90% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 14.4% larger than aid received by Oregon State University students ($12,852 vs. $11,230).

OSU vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OSU 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 OSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oregon State University (1270) is 10 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming OSU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 27) as students at Mason (27).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oregon State University 1140/1400; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oregon State University 24/31; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: OSU - 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: OSU Feb 1, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at OSU (3.61).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than OSU (77.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at OSU vs. 20.2% at Mason.

OSU vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for OSU 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 Oregon State University's (61%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than OSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $53,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than OSU graduates ($19,750 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OSU graduates ($204 vs. $242).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OSU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 66%)

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.