Utah vs. Mason

Deciding between University of Utah 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 Utah
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Utah Salt Lake City, UT
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Utah Midsize City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Utah 36,894
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Utah Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Utah #258
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Utah -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Utah Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Utah
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Utah $9,620
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Utah $30,860
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Utah $13,315
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Utah $16,583
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Utah $12,744
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Utah 73%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Utah 26,822
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Utah 23,062
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Utah 86%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Utah 26%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Utah 1290
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Utah 25
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Utah 3.64
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Utah A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Utah Difficult
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Utah
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Utah 22/29
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Utah 1190/1380
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Utah Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Utah Apr 1, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Utah 19:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Utah
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Utah 55%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Utah $61,300
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Utah 72%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Utah $15,000
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Utah $155
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Utah 51%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Utah 49%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Utah Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Utah No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Utah 70%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Utah 6%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Utah 1%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Utah 11%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Utah 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Utah 1%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Utah 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Utah 6%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Utah 1%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Utah 53%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Utah 42%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT 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 Utah based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 36,894 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Utah is located in Salt Lake City, UT (Midsize City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Utah 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 Utah 19:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Utah vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Utah 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 Utah than Mason ($16,583 vs. $18,823).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Utah are 15.3% lower than at George Mason University ($13,315 vs. $15,725).
  • George Mason University is 47.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Utah (about $4,600 more per year; $14,220.00 vs. $9,620.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.4% higher at Mason than at University of Utah (about $7,828 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $30,860.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Utah than at George Mason University (73% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 0.8% larger than aid received by University of Utah students ($12,852 vs. $12,744).

Utah vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Utah 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 Utah.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Utah (1290) is 30 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Mason students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Utah).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Utah 1190/1380; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Utah 22/29; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Utah - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Utah Apr 1, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Utah (3.64).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Utah (86%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26% at Utah vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Utah vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Utah 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).

  • George Mason University's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than University of Utah's (55%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $600 more per year than Utah graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $61,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Utah graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than Mason graduates ($15,000 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, Utah graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mason graduates ($155 vs. $204).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Utah students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 72%)

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.