VCU vs. Mason

Should I go to Virginia Commonwealth University or George Mason University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if VCU 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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Virginia Commonwealth University vs. George Mason University comparison
Virginia Commonwealth University George Mason University College 3 College 4
Virginia Commonwealth University George Mason University
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Overview

 VCU Mason
Location Richmond, VA Fairfax, VA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 28,238 39,527
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #469 #239
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website vcu.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 VCU Mason
Tuition (In State) $12,850 $10,095
Tuition (Out of State) $34,744 $35,677
Room & Board $16,119 $15,151
Avg Net Price $22,852 $18,900
Avg Grant Aid $12,433 $11,311
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 72%

Admission

 VCU Mason
Applied 19,052 22,579
Admitted 17,729 20,057
Acceptance Rate 93.1% 88.8%
Enrolled % 25.5% 22.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/30 25/30
SAT Range 1030/1270 1140/1340
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 Jan 18, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

 VCU Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 VCU Mason
Graduation Rate 53% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,500 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $240 $204

Diversity

 VCU Mason
% Men 8% 13%
% Women 17% 17%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 50% 43%
% Black 18% 11%
% Hispanic 8% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 5%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

 VCU Mason
% In-State 92% 77%
% Out-of-State 6% 16%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than VCU based on total student enrollment (39,527 students vs. 28,238 students)

VCU vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCU or Mason?

  • Virginia Commonwealth University is 27.3% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($12,850.00 vs. $10,095.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.7% higher at Mason than Virginia Commonwealth University ($35,677.00 vs. $34,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than VCU ($18,900 vs. $22,852)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 6.4% lower than costs at Virginia Commonwealth University ($15,151 vs. $16,119)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than George Mason University (99% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 9.9% larger than aid received George Mason University ($12,433 vs. $11,311)

VCU vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 56 points higher than at VCU (1097)
  • Incoming Mason students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at VCU (24)
  • Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Mason (3.68)
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (93.1%) than Mason (88.8%)

VCU vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, VCU 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 VCU.

  • The graduation rate at Mason is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University (64% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $14,400 more per year than VCU graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $47,500)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than VCU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $23,250)
  • Mason graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than VCU graduates. ($204 vs. $240)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 56%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/