George Mason University (GMU) vs University of Central Florida (UCF)

George Mason University and the University of Central Florida, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. George Mason, located in Fairfax, Virginia, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring students. UCF, situated in Orlando, Florida, attracts a larger student body, resulting in a more diverse and vibrant campus community. While George Mason excels in engineering and computer science programs, UCF shines in business and hospitality management. Both universities offer competitive graduation rates, ensuring that students receive the necessary support to succeed academically. Explore the comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
George Mason University logo

George Mason University

University of Central Florida logo

University of Central Florida

Overview

Location Fairfax, Virginia Orlando, Florida
Campus setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
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% 92.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.3% 36.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
SAT range 1140 - 1350 1170 - 1350
ACT range 25 - 30 25 - 30
Students submitting SAT score 37.0% 73.0%
Students submitting ACT score 3.0% 27.0%
Total number of applicants 20,527 48,929
Total number of admissions given out 18,741 17,797
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,986 7,090
Yield rate 21.3% 39.8%
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 Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $35,263

Out of state: $58,723
In state: $24,036

Out of state: $40,135
Average net price $18,841 $11,575
Tuition
In state: $9,510

Out of state: $32,970
In state: $4,478

Out of state: $19,810
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,620

Meal plan: $5,010
Room/dormitory: $5,670

Meal plan: $4,360
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

70.0%
Average amount $10,110
90.0%
Average amount $10,078
Students receiving federal student loan 43.0%
Average amount $5,006
20.0%
Average amount $5,240
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $18,474
1.0%
Average amount $14,272

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 26,882
Men 50.4% Women 49.6%
59,996
Men 45.0% Women 55.0%
Graduate students 11,746
Men 40.7% Women 59.3%
10,314
Men 40.3% Women 59.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 18.9% 8.5%
International students 8.0% 4.5%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 6,513 8,182
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 Florida Georgia New Jersey Pennsylvania New York

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 30:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 70.1% 74.9%
Dropout rate 9.6% 9.8%
Transferred out 16.5% 12.0%
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
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $120,252
  • Year 3: $135,111
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,940
  • Year 2: $91,363
  • Year 3: $105,950
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,081
  • Year 2: $76,041
  • Year 3: $82,681
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,266
  • Year 2: $63,817
  • Year 3: $80,838
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,188
  • Year 2: $67,420
  • Year 3: $76,084
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,467
  • Year 2: $61,020
  • Year 3: $74,706
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,873
  • Year 2: $56,415
  • Year 3: $73,491
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,142
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: $71,339
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,872
  • Year 2: $58,092
  • Year 3: $68,273
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,767
  • Year 2: $56,867
  • Year 3: $66,145

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