loading 6,000+ schools…
Fairfax, VA · Blacksburg, VA
| George Mason University | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $17,915/yr | $24,953/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $11,942/yr | $11,689/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $19,500 | $21,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $12,093/yr | $11,670/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $15,224/yr | $17,894/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $19,430/yr | $25,835/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $25,894/yr | $34,201/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $207/mo | $228/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $15,725/yr | $16,550/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $15,725/yr | $12,578/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,288/yr | $2,678/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,667/yr | $4,494/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $28,604/yr | $36,951/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $14,220/yr | $15,948/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $38,688/yr | $37,764/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 30% | 15% |
| Students taking federal loans | 31% | 34% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 87% | 55% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1160–1360 | 1280–1450 |
| SAT average | 1274 | 1364 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 25–30 | 28–32 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 23–31 · Math 22–27 | English 26–34 · Math 26–32 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 22,579 | 47,208 |
| Students accepted | 20,057 | 26,923 |
| Students who enrolled | 4,451 | 7,196 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 22% | 27% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 35% | 43% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 3% | 7% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Class rank | Not considered | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 68% | 86% |
| Freshmen who come back | 86% | 93% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $76,343/yr | $81,698/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $47,905–$109,864 | $53,415–$113,356 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 76% | 87% |
| White students graduating | 69% | 88% |
| Black students graduating | 58% | 76% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 63% | 83% |
| Asian students graduating | 75% | 91% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $60,536/yr | $67,377/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 82% | 87% |
| Graduate on time | 46% | 69% |
| Pell students who graduate | 64% | 79% |
| First-gen students who finish | 73% | 79% |
| Low-income students who finish | 73% | 78% |
| Students who transfer out | 17% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $68,053/yr | $75,717/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Computer & Information Sciences 15% · Homeland Security & Protective Services 8% | Business, Management & Marketing 24% · Engineering 20% · Social Sciences 8% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 24% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 15% of degrees | Engineering — 20% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 8% of degrees | Social Sciences — 8% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Social Sciences — 7% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Health Professions — 7% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Computer Engineering — $132,367/yr | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $119,423/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 27% | 38% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 27,752 | 30,923 |
| Students per professor | 16 : 1 | 17 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 11,432 | 7,822 |
| Average professor pay | $14,486/mo | $14,162/mo |
| Full-time professors | 53% | 99% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $44,254 | $89,378 |
| Setting | Suburb (large) | City (small) |
| Location | Fairfax, VA | Blacksburg, VA |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1957 | 1872 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 5.3% | 4.6% |
| Men | 51% | 57% |
| Women | 49% | 43% |
| White students | 32% | 57% |
| Black students | 13% | 5.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 18% | 9.8% |
| Asian students | 23% | 14% |
| Two or more races | 5.7% | 5.8% |
| Other / not reported | 3.3% | 3.1% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 30% | 18% |
| Part-time students | 19% | 2.6% |
| Students age 25+ | 17% | 1.6% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $15,232/yr | $15,632/yr |
| Endowment | $206.8M | $1.9B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 6,251 | 10,213 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,970/yr | $6,520/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,550/yr | $5,998/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | Land-grant institution |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Army, Navy, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | Yes |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | No |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I without football | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 18 | 18 |
| Student athletes | 493 | 618 |
| Athletic scholarships | $7.7M | $20.9M |
| Athletics budget | $32.5M | $149.0M |
| Athletics revenue | $33.0M | $151.6M |
| Recruiting spend | $525,588 | $3.4M |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.