George Mason University vs. George Washington University (GWU) Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to Mason or GW?“
George Mason University
George Washington University (GWU)
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between George Mason University and George Washington University (GWU). This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between George Mason University and George Washington University (GWU)
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between George Mason University and George Washington University (GWU). The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| George Mason University | George Washington University (GWU) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $10,952 | $50,435 |
| Net Price | $19,245 | $33,637 |
| Average Financial Aid | $8,868 | $28,103 |
| Total Undergraduates | 22308 | 10901 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1040 - 1250 | 1190 - 1390 |
| Acceptance Rate | 69 | 46 |
| Location | 4400 University Dr | 2121 I Street NW |
| City Name | Fairfax | Washington |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, George Mason University is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Fairfax and Washington. Mason is in a South Atlantic and GW is in a Mid-Atlantic - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is George Mason University or George Washington University (GWU) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then George Washington University (GWU) is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that George Washington University (GWU) is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, George Mason University is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do Mason Dorms Compare to housing Options at GW?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. Mason charges for on-campus living, while GW charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
Mason and GW student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| George Mason University, % | GW,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 43.39 | 56.269999999999996 |
| Hispanic | 12.839999999999998 | 8.459999999999999 |
| Black | 10.52 | 5.94 |
| Foreign | 4.54 | 10.040000000000001 |
| Others | 28.7 | 19.3 |
How different is the George Mason University campus compared to George Washington University (GWU) campus?
The Mason campus is located in Fairfax, VA and is characterized as Suburb: Large (outside principal city, in urbanized area with population of 250,000 or more). The GW campus is located in Washington, DC and is characterized as City: Large (population of 250,000 or more).
Which school gives more financial aid?
Mason provides $8,868 whereas GW provides an average of $28,103.
How does Mason academics compare to GW?
When analyzing academics between George Mason University and George Washington University (GWU) we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | Mason | GW |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | 25 | 22 |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | N/A |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 6 | 28 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | N/A | 148 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 448 | 89 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | 32 | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 295 | 167 |
| Education | 84 | N/A |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: George Mason University or George Washington University (GWU)?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between Mason and GW. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does Mason social life compare to GW?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how Mason social life differs from GW.
Check here.
Check here.