Dickinson College vs. Mason

Deciding between Dickinson College and George Mason University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Dickinson College
George Mason University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Dickinson College Carlisle, PA
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Dickinson College Distant Town
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Dickinson College 2,314
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Dickinson College Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Dickinson College #76
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Dickinson College -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Dickinson College Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Dickinson College
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Dickinson College $17,100
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Dickinson College $38,483
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Dickinson College $44,479
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Dickinson College 96%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Dickinson College 7,258
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Dickinson College 3,055
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Dickinson College 42.1%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Dickinson College 21.1%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Dickinson College 1390
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Dickinson College 31
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Dickinson College -
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Dickinson College -
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Dickinson College Very High
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Dickinson College Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Dickinson College 30/33
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Dickinson College 1310/1460
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Dickinson College Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Dickinson College 11:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Dickinson College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Ethnic Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Dickinson College 84%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Dickinson College $62,000
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Dickinson College 89%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Dickinson College $21,000
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Dickinson College $217
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Dickinson College 40%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Dickinson College 60%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Dickinson College Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Dickinson College No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Dickinson College 72%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Dickinson College 3%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Dickinson College 6%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Dickinson College 10%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Dickinson College 2%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Dickinson College 26%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Dickinson College 67%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Dickinson College Yes
  • Mason Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Dickinson College No
  • Mason No
  • Meal Plan
  • Dickinson College Yes
  • Mason Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Dickinson College No
  • Mason No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Dickinson College Yes
  • Mason Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA with George Mason University in Fairfax, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

George Mason University is larger than Dickinson College based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 2,314 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, PA (Distant Town setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dickinson College 11:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Dickinson College vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dickinson College or Mason? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Dickinson College ($18,823 vs. $38,483).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 8% lower than at Dickinson College ($15,725 vs. $17,100).
  • Dickinson College is 361.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $51,430 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 69.7% higher at Dickinson College than at George Mason University (about $26,962 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dickinson College than at George Mason University (96% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dickinson College students is 246.1% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($44,479 vs. $12,852).

Dickinson College vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dickinson College or Mason? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Mason and Dickinson College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dickinson College (1390) is 130 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Dickinson College students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 1310/1460; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 30/33; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dickinson College - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Dickinson College (42.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at Dickinson College vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Dickinson College vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dickinson College and Mason? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Dickinson College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from Dickinson College earn a median of about $100 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,000 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than Dickinson College graduates ($19,750 vs. $21,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dickinson College graduates ($204 vs. $217).
  • More Dickinson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.