Iowa vs. Mason

Should I go to University of Iowa or George Mason University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Iowa or Mason is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of Iowa vs. George Mason University comparison
University of Iowa George Mason University College 3 College 4
University of Iowa George Mason University
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Overview

Iowa Mason
Location Iowa City, IA Fairfax, VA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 30,015 39,049
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #224 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uiowa.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Iowa Mason
Tuition (In State) $8,711 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $30,674 $35,377
Room & Board $11,476 $13,120
Avg Net Price $19,587 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $9,959 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 74%

Admission

Iowa Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,729 20,001
Admitted 22,128 18,001
Acceptance Rate 86% 90%
Enrolled % 23.4% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28 25/31
SAT Range 1130/1340 1140/1350
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2024 Feb 1, 2024

Academics

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

Outcomes

Iowa Mason
Graduation Rate 71% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,800 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,616 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $223 $204

Diversity

Iowa Mason
% Men 44% 48%
% Women 56% 52%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 43%
% Black 3% 11%
% Hispanic 7% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 12% 5%
% Unknown Race 4% 5%

Students

Iowa Mason
% In-State 54% 77%
% Out-of-State 45% 17%

Campus

Iowa Mason
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than Iowa based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 30,015 students)

Iowa vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa or Mason?

  • George Mason University is 12.4% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($9,795.00 vs. $8,711.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.3% higher at Mason than University of Iowa ($35,377.00 vs. $30,674.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Iowa ($18,479 vs. $19,587)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 14.3% lower than costs at George Mason University ($11,476 vs. $13,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Iowa than George Mason University (82% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 8% larger than aid received University of Iowa ($10,760 vs. $9,959)

Iowa vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa or Mason? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mason or Iowa .

  • The average SAT score at University of Iowa (1164) is 11 points higher than at Mason (1153)
  • Incoming Iowa students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at Mason (26)
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Mason (3.68)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than Iowa (86%)

Iowa vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Iowa or Mason? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Mason and Iowa.

  • The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than George Mason University (71% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $2,100 more per year than Iowa graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $59,800)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $1,866 lower median federal student loan debt than Iowa graduates. ($19,750 vs. $21,616)
  • Mason graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than Iowa graduates. ($204 vs. $223)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa 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/