George Mason University vs. Florida Atlantic University Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to Mason or FAU?“
George Mason University
Florida Atlantic University
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 Florida Atlantic University. 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 Florida Atlantic University
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between George Mason University and Florida Atlantic University. The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| George Mason University | Florida Atlantic University | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $10,952 | $4,831 |
| Net Price | $19,245 | $13,427 |
| Average Financial Aid | $8,868 | $4,876 |
| Total Undergraduates | 22308 | 24228 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1040 - 1250 | 950 - 1140 |
| Acceptance Rate | 69 | 68 |
| Location | 4400 University Dr | 777 Glades Rd |
| City Name | Fairfax | Boca Raton |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, Florida Atlantic University is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Fairfax and Boca Raton. Mason is in a South Atlantic and FAU is in a South Atlantic - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is George Mason University or Florida Atlantic University Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then Florida Atlantic University 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 Florida Atlantic University 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 FAU?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. Mason charges for on-campus living, while FAU 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 FAU student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| George Mason University, % | FAU,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 43.39 | 43.14 |
| Hispanic | 12.839999999999998 | 26.040000000000003 |
| Black | 10.52 | 19.74 |
| Foreign | 4.54 | 2.27 |
| Others | 28.7 | 8.8 |
How different is the George Mason University campus compared to Florida Atlantic University 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 FAU campus is located in Boca Raton, FL and is characterized as City: Small (population less than 100,000).
Which school gives more financial aid?
Mason provides $8,868 whereas FAU provides an average of $4,876.
How does Mason academics compare to FAU?
When analyzing academics between George Mason University and Florida Atlantic University 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 | FAU |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | 25 | N/A |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | 89 |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 6 | N/A |
| Communication journalism and related programs | N/A | 319 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 448 | 145 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | 32 | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 295 | 256 |
| Education | 84 | 245 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: George Mason University or Florida Atlantic University?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between Mason and FAU. 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 FAU?
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 FAU.
Check here.
Check here.