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JMU VCU Harvard Yale Barnard Princeton Virginia Tech CNU Cornell Old Dominion UChicago NYU| Columbia University in the City of New York | George Mason University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Columbia | Mason | ||
| Location | New York, NY | Fairfax, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 34,782 | 39,049 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #22 | #228 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | columbia.edu | gmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia | Mason | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $62,570 | $9,795 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $62,570 | $35,377 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,286 | $13,120 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,058 | $18,479 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $61,061 | $10,760 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 52% | 74% |
Admission |
Columbia | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 60,879 | 20,001 | ||
| Admitted | 2,404 | 18,001 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 3.9% | 90% | ||
| Enrolled % | 64.1% | 23% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.91 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | |||
| ACT Range | 34/35 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1490/1580 | 1140/1350 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 1, 2024 | Feb 1, 2024 |
Academics |
Columbia | Mason | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 6:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbia | Mason | ||
| Graduation Rate | 93% | 64% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $107,600 | $61,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 73% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $19,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $204 |
Diversity |
Columbia | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 48% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 52% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 38% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 13% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 5% | ||
| % International | 15% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 5% |
Students |
Columbia | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 19% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 64% | 17% | ||
Campus |
Columbia | Mason | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- George Mason University is larger than than Columbia based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 34,782 students)
Columbia vs. Mason Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Mason?
- Columbia University in the City of New York is 538.8% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $9,795.00)
- Out of state tuition is 76.9% higher at Columbia than George Mason University ($62,570.00 vs. $35,377.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Columbia ($18,479 vs. $22,058)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 24.1% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($13,120 vs. $16,286)
- More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than Columbia University in the City of New York (74% vs. 52%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 467.5% larger than aid received George Mason University ($61,061 vs. $10,760)
Columbia vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia or Mason? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mason or Columbia .
- The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 320 points higher than at Mason (1153)
- Incoming Columbia students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Mason (26)
- Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Mason (3.68)
- Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than Columbia (3.9%)
Columbia vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia or Mason? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Mason and Columbia.
- The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than George Mason University (93% vs. 64%)
- Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $45,700 more per year than Mason graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $61,900)
- George Mason University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia graduates. ($19,750 vs. $21,500)
- Mason graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia graduates. ($204 vs. $222)
- More Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 73%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/