U of R vs. Mason
Deciding between University of Rochester 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 Rochester
George Mason University
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Overview
- U of R
- Mason
- Location
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U of R Rochester, NY
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Mason Fairfax, VA
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- Setting
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U of R Midsize City
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Mason Large Suburban
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- Total enrollment
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U of R 11,946
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Mason 39,766
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- Type
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U of R Private 4 Year
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Mason Public 4 Year
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- National Ranking
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U of R #56
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Mason #243
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- Religious Affiliation
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U of R -
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Mason -
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- Status
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U of R Non-profit
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Mason Non-profit
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- Website
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U of R rochester.edu
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Mason gmu.edu
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- Team Colors
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U of R
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Mason
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Cost
- U of R
- Mason
- Tuition (In State)
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U of R $67,080
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Mason $14,220
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- Tuition (Out of State)
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U of R $67,080
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Mason $38,688
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- Room & Board
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U of R $19,792
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Mason $15,725
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- Average Net Price
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U of R $40,462
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Mason $18,823
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- Average Grant Aid
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U of R $45,500
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Mason $12,852
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- % Receiving Grant Aid
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U of R 72%
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Mason 71%
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Admissions
- U of R
- Mason
- Applied
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U of R 21,384
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Mason 25,234
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- Admitted
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U of R 8,570
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Mason 22,074
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- Acceptance Rate
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U of R 40.1%
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Mason 87.5%
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- Enrolled
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U of R 15.4%
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Mason 20.2%
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- Typical SAT score
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U of R 1480
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Mason 1260
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- Typical ACT score
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U of R 32
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Mason 27
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- Average High School GPA
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U of R 3.75
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Mason 3.68
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- Typical High School Grades
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U of R A-
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Mason B+
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- Admissions Standards
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U of R Exceptional
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Mason Difficult
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- Applicant Competition
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U of R Low
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Mason
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- ACT Range
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U of R 31/34
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Mason 25/30
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- SAT Range
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U of R 1410/1540
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Mason 1160/1360
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- Submit Test Scores
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U of R Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
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Mason Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
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- Application Deadline
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U of R Jan 5, 2027
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Mason Feb 1, 2027
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Academics
- U of R
- Mason
- Student to Faculty Ratio
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U of R 9:1
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Mason 16:1
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- Popular Majors
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U of R
- Social Sciences (20%)
- Biology (13%)
- Health Professions (11%)
- Psychology (11%)
- Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
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Mason
- Business (23%)
- Social Sciences (16%)
- English and Literature (10%)
- Psychology (8%)
- Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
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Outcomes
- U of R
- Mason
- Graduation Rate
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U of R 83%
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Mason 64%
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- Median Earnings (After 10 years)
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U of R $71,000
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Mason $61,900
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- Making Student Loan Payments
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U of R 79%
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Mason 73%
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- Median Student Loan Debt
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U of R $24,500
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Mason $19,750
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- Median Loan Payment
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U of R $253
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Mason $204
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Diversity
- U of R
- Mason
- % Men
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U of R 47%
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Mason 43%
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- % Women
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U of R 53%
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Mason 57%
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- Racial Diversity
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U of R High
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Mason Very High
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- HBCU
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U of R No
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Mason No
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- % White
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U of R 48%
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Mason 43%
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- % Asian
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U of R 11%
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Mason 19%
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- % Black
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U of R 5%
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Mason 11%
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- % Hispanic
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U of R 7%
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Mason 13%
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- % Native American
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U of R 0%
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Mason 0%
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- % Pacific Islander
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U of R 0%
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Mason 0%
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- % Two or More Races
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U of R 3%
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Mason 5%
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- % International
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U of R 18%
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Mason 5%
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- % Unknown Race
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U of R 7%
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Mason 5%
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Students
- U of R
- Mason
- % In-State
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U of R 30%
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Mason 77%
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- % Out-of-State
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U of R 45%
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Mason 14%
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Comparable Facts
Compare University of Rochester in Rochester, 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 U of R based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 11,946 students)
Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio
- University of Rochester is located in Rochester, NY (Midsize City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
- University of Rochester is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Rochester 9:1; George Mason University 16:1.
U of R vs. Mason Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, U of R 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 U of R ($18,823 vs. $40,462).
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 20.5% lower than at University of Rochester ($15,725 vs. $19,792).
- University of Rochester is 371.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $52,860 more per year; $67,080.00 vs. $14,220.00).
- Out-of-state tuition is 73.4% higher at U of R than at George Mason University (about $28,392 more per year; $67,080.00 vs. $38,688.00).
- A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rochester than at George Mason University (72% vs. 71%).
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rochester students is 254% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($45,500 vs. $12,852).
U of R vs. Mason Admissions comparison
Which college is harder to get into, U of R 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 U of R.
- The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Rochester (1480) is 220 points higher than at Mason (1260).
- Incoming U of R students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 27 at Mason).
- Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Rochester 1410/1540; George Mason University 1160/1360.
- Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Rochester 31/34; George Mason University 25/30.
- Submitting SAT or ACT scores: U of R - 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: U of R Jan 5, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
- Accepted freshman U of R 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 U of R (40.1%).
- The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at U of R vs. 20.2% at Mason.
U of R vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison
How do outcomes compare for U of R 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 Rochester's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
- Graduates from University of Rochester earn a median of about $9,100 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($71,000 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
- Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than U of R graduates ($19,750 vs. $24,500).
- Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than U of R graduates ($204 vs. $253).
- More U of R graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.