George Mason University (GMU) vs Berkeley

Envision yourself pursuing higher education at either George Mason University (GMU) or University of California-Berkeley (UCB). While both institutions offer exceptional academic opportunities, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your decision. GMU, located in Fairfax, Virginia, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on research, while UCB, situated in Berkeley, California, is renowned for its prestigious reputation and rigorous academic programs. Explore the comparison table below to delve into the acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates of these two esteemed universities. Discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, setting the stage for a transformative educational journey.
George Mason University logo

George Mason University

University of California-Berkeley logo

University of California-Berkeley

Overview

Location Fairfax, Virginia Berkeley, California
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 84.0% 96.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.3% 14.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
SAT range 1140 - 1350 N/A
ACT range 25 - 30 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 37.0%
Students submitting ACT score 3.0%
Total number of applicants 20,527 112,843
Total number of admissions given out 18,741 16,295
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,986 6,931
Yield rate 21.3% 42.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $35,263

Out of state: $58,723
In state: $37,920

Out of state: $67,674
Average net price $18,841 $17,652
Tuition
In state: $9,510

Out of state: $32,970
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,620

Meal plan: $5,010
$20,236
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

70.0%
Average amount $10,110
52.0%
Average amount $21,406
Students receiving federal student loan 43.0%
Average amount $5,006
15.0%
Average amount $4,586
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $18,474
6.0%
Average amount $7,122

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 26,882
Men 50.4% Women 49.6%
31,814
Men 45.4% Women 54.6%
Graduate students 11,746
Men 40.7% Women 59.3%
13,222
Men 51.7% Women 48.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 18.9% 16.9%
International students 8.0% 18.0%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 6,513 9,630
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Virginia Maryland District of Columbia Pennsylvania New York California New Jersey Texas Virginia New York

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Legal Profession
  • Health Professions
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 20:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 70.1% 92.8%
Dropout rate 9.6% 6.3%
Transferred out 16.5% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,837
  • Year 2: $109,763
  • Year 3: $127,586
Homeland Security (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,476
  • Year 2: $127,993
  • Year 3: $120,573
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,886
  • Year 2: $99,709
  • Year 3: $117,377
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,424
  • Year 2: $101,072
  • Year 3: $115,693
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $98,841
  • Year 2: $105,585
  • Year 3: $113,896
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $121,226
  • Year 2: $92,632
  • Year 3: $105,664
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,843
  • Year 2: $100,690
  • Year 3: $101,702
Medical Illustration and Informatics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,386
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $101,604
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,911
  • Year 2: $91,448
  • Year 3: $99,722
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,065
  • Year 2: $92,277
  • Year 3: $94,785
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $171,936
  • Year 3: $191,597
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $167,052
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $125,250
  • Year 2: $125,388
  • Year 3: $161,399
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $126,367
  • Year 2: $128,868
  • Year 3: $160,666
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $160,390
  • Year 2: $142,470
  • Year 3: $143,984
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $119,358
  • Year 3: $143,516
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $107,442
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $112,973
Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,750
  • Year 2: $91,363
  • Year 3: $104,601
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,600
  • Year 2: $85,760
  • Year 3: $103,738
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,282
  • Year 2: $65,387
  • Year 3: $102,543

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