Which is more affordable for an out-of-state student: the University of Florida or George Mason University?

For most out-of-state students paying close to the published price, the University of Florida is likely to cost less than George Mason University. UF’s nonresident tuition and required fees are typically substantially lower, and its total estimated cost of attendance is often lower even after housing, meals, books, and personal expenses are included. George Mason’s out-of-state tuition is higher, while its Northern Virginia location can also mean higher off-campus rent, transportation, and day-to-day costs.

That comparison favors a student who expects limited institutional aid and wants the lower predictable sticker price: UF is likely to be the more affordable starting point. Florida residents have access to state programs such as Bright Futures, but those awards generally do not apply to nonresidents, so an out-of-state applicant should not assume that UF’s resident aid structure will reduce their bill.

George Mason can become the lower-cost option only if its financial-aid offer is meaningfully stronger. Compare each school’s net price after grants and scholarships, not loans or work-study. An unsubsidized federal loan does not make the college less expensive, because it must be repaid.

Use each school’s official award letter to compare four annual figures: tuition and mandatory fees, on-campus housing and meal plan, grants and scholarships that do not require repayment, and realistic travel or off-campus living costs. Also check whether renewable scholarships require a particular GPA or full-time enrollment.