Head-to-head comparison
George Mason University vs Virginia Military Institute: which has better ROI?
Option A Fairfax, VA
George Mason University
- Net price / year
- $17,915
- Earnings, 10 years
- $76,343
- Payback
- 2.6 yrs
Option B Lexington, VA
Virginia Military Institute
- Net price / year
- $17,113
- Earnings, 10 years
- $77,369
- Payback
- 2.4 yrs
Virginia Military Institute has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $68,452 in 2.4 years versus 2.6 years at George Mason University, on median earnings of $77,369 vs $76,343 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | George Mason University | Virginia Military Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,915 | $17,113 |
| Total net cost | $71,660 | $68,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $76,343 | $77,369 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $22,996 |
| Payback | 2.6 yrs | 2.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $488,000 | $511,728 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, George Mason University or Virginia Military Institute?
Virginia Military Institute, at $17,113 a year after aid versus $17,915 — a gap of $802 a year, or $3,208 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do George Mason University or Virginia Military Institute graduates earn more?
Virginia Military Institute graduates report a median $77,369 ten years after entry, $1,026 more than the $76,343 at George Mason University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, George Mason University or Virginia Military Institute?
George Mason University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $22,996 at Virginia Military Institute, a difference of $3,496. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
76% of students finish at Virginia Military Institute, against 68% at George Mason University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.