University of Kansas (KU) vs George Mason University (GMU)

Envision yourself as a student, standing at the crossroads of two esteemed universities: the University of Kansas (KU) and George Mason University (GMU). While both institutions offer a world-class education, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your academic journey. KU, rooted in tradition, boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a diverse student body from various backgrounds. GMU, on the other hand, prides itself on its rigorous academic standards, reflected in its lower acceptance rate. Explore the comparison table below to delve into further details, such as popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that set these universities apart. Discover which institution aligns with your aspirations and empowers you to achieve your academic goals.
George Mason University logo

George Mason University

University of Kansas logo

University of Kansas

Overview

Location Fairfax, Virginia Lawrence, Kansas
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Small
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% 85.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.3% 92.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $65
SAT range 1140 - 1350 1090 - 1330
ACT range 25 - 30 21 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 37.0% 12.0%
Students submitting ACT score 3.0% 80.0%
Total number of applicants 20,527 15,275
Total number of admissions given out 18,741 14,129
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,986 4,119
Yield rate 21.3% 29.2%
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: $25,259

Out of state: $42,127
Average net price $18,841 $18,608
Tuition
In state: $9,510

Out of state: $32,970
In state: $10,092

Out of state: $26,960
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,620

Meal plan: $5,010
Room/dormitory: $6,100

Meal plan: $3,800
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

70.0%
Average amount $10,110
80.0%
Average amount $10,408
Students receiving federal student loan 43.0%
Average amount $5,006
40.0%
Average amount $5,220
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $18,474
6.0%
Average amount $13,036

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 26,882
Men 50.4% Women 49.6%
19,158
Men 46.8% Women 53.2%
Graduate students 11,746
Men 40.7% Women 59.3%
7,622
Men 42.7% Women 57.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 18.9% 41.5%
International students 8.0% 6.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 6,513 5,235
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 Kansas Missouri Illinois Texas Colorado

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 70.1% 66.0%
Dropout rate 9.6% 7.8%
Transferred out 16.5% 24.6%
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
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $160,586
  • Year 2: $170,720
  • Year 3: $156,139
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,189
  • Year 2: $119,061
  • Year 3: $123,797
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,966
  • Year 2: $73,299
  • Year 3: $88,195
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,179
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $81,042
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $78,614
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,617
  • Year 2: $72,625
  • Year 3: $77,366
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,974
  • Year 2: $66,001
  • Year 3: $73,900
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,436
  • Year 2: $59,722
  • Year 3: $72,306
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,919
  • Year 2: $64,990
  • Year 3: $68,960
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,347
  • Year 2: $53,108
  • Year 3: $68,650

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