Vassar vs. Mason

Deciding between Vassar College 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.

Vassar College
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Vassar #46
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Vassar -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Vassar
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Vassar $57,443
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Vassar 55%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Vassar 1500
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Vassar 34
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Vassar A
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Vassar Elite
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Vassar Very High
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Vassar 33/35
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Vassar 91%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Vassar 92%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Vassar $163
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Vassar 38%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Vassar 62%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Vassar High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Vassar No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Vassar 59%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Vassar 11%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Vassar 5%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Vassar 11%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Vassar 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Vassar 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Vassar 6%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Vassar 7%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Vassar 0%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Vassar 29%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Vassar 63%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, 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 Vassar based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Vassar College is located in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Vassar College 7:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Vassar vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Vassar 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 Vassar ($18,823 vs. $29,981).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 13.8% lower than at Vassar College ($15,725 vs. $18,240).
  • Vassar College is 399.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $56,810 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 83.6% higher at Vassar than at George Mason University (about $32,342 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at Vassar College (71% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 347% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($57,443 vs. $12,852).

Vassar vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Vassar 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 Vassar.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 240 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 1450/1550; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 33/35; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Vassar - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Vassar Jan 1, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Vassar (18.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Vassar vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Vassar vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Vassar 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).

  • Vassar College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $3,970 lower median loan debt than Mason graduates ($15,780 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mason graduates ($163 vs. $204).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.