UB vs. Mason

Deciding between University at Buffalo 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.

University at Buffalo
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UB 31,903
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UB #101
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UB -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • UB Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UB
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UB $10,936
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UB $31,536
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • UB $17,426
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • UB $20,529
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UB $10,663
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UB 76%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UB 40,856
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • UB 30,308
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UB 74.2%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UB 14.1%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UB 1300
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UB 29
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • UB 3.75
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UB A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UB Very High
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UB Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • UB 27/32
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UB Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UB
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UB 11:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UB 71%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UB $58,400
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UB 70%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UB $19,500
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UB $201
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UB 51%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • UB 49%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UB High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • UB No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • UB 48%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • UB 14%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • UB 7%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • UB 6%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • UB 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UB 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UB 2%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • UB 16%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UB 5%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UB 88%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UB 3%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY 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 UB based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 31,903 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University at Buffalo is located in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University at Buffalo 11:1; George Mason University 16:1.

UB vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UB 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 UB ($18,823 vs. $20,529).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 9.8% lower than at University at Buffalo ($15,725 vs. $17,426).
  • George Mason University is 30% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $3,284 more per year; $14,220.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.7% higher at Mason than at University at Buffalo (about $7,152 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at George Mason University (76% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 20.5% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($12,852 vs. $10,663).

UB vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UB 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 UB.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 40 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming UB students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 1210/1380; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 27/32; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UB - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than UB (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at UB vs. 20.2% at Mason.

UB vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UB 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).

  • University at Buffalo's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than Mason graduates ($19,500 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mason graduates ($201 vs. $204).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 70%)

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.