UNC Chapel Hill vs. Mason

Deciding between University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 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 of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UNC Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • UNC Chapel Hill Small City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UNC Chapel Hill 32,438
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • UNC Chapel Hill Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UNC Chapel Hill #59
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UNC Chapel Hill -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • UNC Chapel Hill Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UNC Chapel Hill
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $8,994
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $41,203
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • UNC Chapel Hill $13,804
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • UNC Chapel Hill $10,154
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UNC Chapel Hill $17,814
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UNC Chapel Hill 38%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UNC Chapel Hill 66,535
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10,209
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15.3%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UNC Chapel Hill 45.5%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1460
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNC Chapel Hill 31
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3.83
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UNC Chapel Hill A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UNC Chapel Hill Exceptional
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UNC Chapel Hill Very High
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • UNC Chapel Hill 28/34
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1390/1530
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UNC Chapel Hill Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UNC Chapel Hill
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UNC Chapel Hill 89%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $66,100
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UNC Chapel Hill 82%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UNC Chapel Hill $16,479
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UNC Chapel Hill $170
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UNC Chapel Hill 40%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • UNC Chapel Hill 60%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UNC Chapel Hill Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • UNC Chapel Hill No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • UNC Chapel Hill 64%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UNC Chapel Hill 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UNC Chapel Hill 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • UNC Chapel Hill 2%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UNC Chapel Hill 84%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UNC Chapel Hill 11%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC 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 UNC Chapel Hill based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 32,438 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1; George Mason University 16:1.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNC Chapel Hill 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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill than Mason ($10,154 vs. $18,823).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 12.2% lower than at George Mason University ($13,804 vs. $15,725).
  • George Mason University is 58.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $5,226 more per year; $14,220.00 vs. $8,994.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.5% higher at UNC Chapel Hill than at George Mason University (about $2,515 more per year; $41,203.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (71% vs. 38%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students is 38.6% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($17,814 vs. $12,852).

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNC Chapel Hill 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 UNC Chapel Hill.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 200 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming UNC Chapel Hill students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UNC Chapel Hill students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill vs. 20.2% at Mason.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNC Chapel Hill 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 of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,100 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $3,271 lower median loan debt than Mason graduates ($16,479 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mason graduates ($170 vs. $204).
  • More UNC Chapel Hill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.