Head to head · Virginia
Which of these costs less depends on what you earn. At $30–48k and below, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is the cheaper of the two; from $48–75k up, George Mason University is. Sticker price shows none of this.
| Household income | George Mason University | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $11,942 | $11,689 | $253 |
| $30–48k | $12,093 | $11,670 | $423 |
| $48–75k | $15,224 | $17,894 | $2,670 |
| $75–110k | $19,430 | $25,835 | $6,405 |
| Over $110k | $25,894 | $34,201 | $8,307 |
Green marks the cheaper of the two at that income. "Net price" is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education — not a calculator's estimate. Public-school figures reflect in-state families; out-of-state families typically pay more.
FAFSA deadlines for 2027–28, state by state →
The brag sheet: what to hand a teacher before asking for a recommendation →
Each year's reported net price grown 3.5% — the same method College Compass uses inside a family's plan.
Listed George Mason University first, then Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Acceptance rate is the school's overall published figure — your student's own odds depend on their transcript, scores, and high school.
Again George Mason University first. The four-year graduation rate matters more than it looks: a fifth year is a fifth year of paying.
These are averages. Your family isn't average.
Run both against your student's real GPA, your income band, and your actual high school — odds with the math shown, and what four years would really cost you, side by side. First three schools free.
George Mason University — every income band · Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University — every income band · All Virginia public colleges