Salisbury vs. Mason

Salisbury University and George Mason University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Salisbury University
George Mason University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Salisbury (87.5% admitted vs 87.5%). Typical SAT 1250 vs 1260.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $18,760 at Salisbury vs $18,823 at Mason. Mason in-state tuition is about $3,136 more per year.
  • Graduation: Salisbury 67% vs Mason 64%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Salisbury $52,000 vs Mason $61,900 (median).
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Key differences

Salisbury University George Mason University
Acceptance rate
Salisbury more selective
Salisbury87.5%
Mason87.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Mason higher
Salisbury1180-1320
Mason1160-1360
Average net price
About even
Salisbury$18,760
Mason$18,823
In-state tuition
Salisbury $3,136 less
Salisbury$11,084
Mason$14,220
Out-of-state tuition
Salisbury $16,514 less
Salisbury$22,174
Mason$38,688
Graduation rate
Salisbury +3 pts
Salisbury67%
Mason64%
Median earnings (10 years)
Mason +$9,900
Salisbury$52,000
Mason$61,900

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Salisbury 8,845
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Salisbury 7,737
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance rate
  • Salisbury 87.5%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Salisbury 18.4%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Salisbury 1250
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Salisbury 24
  • Mason 27
  • Average high school GPA
  • Salisbury 3.73
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical high school grades
  • Salisbury A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Salisbury Challenging
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • Salisbury
  • Mason
  • SAT range
  • Salisbury 1180-1320
  • Mason 1160-1360
  • ACT range
  • Salisbury 20-29
  • Mason 25-30
  • Submit test scores
  • Salisbury Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Salisbury Jan 15, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Salisbury $11,084
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Salisbury $22,174
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & board
  • Salisbury $13,900
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average net price
  • Salisbury $18,760
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average grant aid
  • Salisbury $9,124
  • Mason $12,852
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Salisbury 88%
  • Mason 71%
  • Graduation rate
  • Salisbury 67%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Salisbury $52,000
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making student loan payments
  • Salisbury 68%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Salisbury $20,153
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median loan payment
  • Salisbury $208
  • Mason $204
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Salisbury 14:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • Salisbury
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Location
  • Salisbury Salisbury, MD
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Salisbury Small Suburban
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Salisbury 7,025
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Salisbury Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Salisbury #352
  • Mason #243

Comparable Facts

Compare Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD with George Mason University in Fairfax, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

George Mason University is larger than Salisbury based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 7,025 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, MD (Small Suburban setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Salisbury University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Salisbury University 14:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salisbury University are 11.6% lower than at George Mason University ($13,900 vs. $15,725).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.5% higher at Mason than at Salisbury University (about $16,514 more per year; $38,688 vs. $22,174).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salisbury University than at George Mason University (88% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 40.9% larger than aid received by Salisbury University students ($12,852 vs. $9,124).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Mason than at Salisbury (27 vs. 24, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Salisbury and Mason.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Salisbury Jan 15, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Salisbury average a 3.73 high school GPA, 0.05 higher than at Mason (3.68).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at Salisbury vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $403 lower median loan debt than Salisbury graduates ($19,750 vs. $20,153).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Salisbury graduates ($204 vs. $208).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salisbury students, three years after graduation (73% vs. 68%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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