Head-to-head comparison
George Mason University vs William & Mary: 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 Williamsburg, VA
William & Mary
- Net price / year
- $19,096
- Earnings, 10 years
- $73,490
- Payback
- 3 yrs
George Mason University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $71,660 in 2.6 years versus 3 years at William & Mary, on median earnings of $76,343 vs $73,490 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | George Mason University | William & Mary |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,915 | $19,096 |
| Total net cost | $71,660 | $76,384 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $76,343 | $73,490 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $18,500 |
| Payback | 2.6 yrs | 3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $488,000 | $426,216 |
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 William & Mary?
George Mason University, at $17,915 a year after aid versus $19,096 — a gap of $1,181 a year, or $4,724 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 William & Mary graduates earn more?
George Mason University graduates report a median $76,343 ten years after entry, $2,853 more than the $73,490 at William & Mary. 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 William & Mary?
William & Mary: its completers carry a median $18,500 in federal loans versus $19,500 at George Mason University, a difference of $1,000. 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?
89% of students finish at William & Mary, 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.