Hamilton College vs. Mason

Deciding between Hamilton 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.

Hamilton College
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hamilton College Clinton, NY
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Hamilton College Rural Fringe
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Hamilton College 2,031
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Hamilton College Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hamilton College #26
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hamilton College -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Hamilton College Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hamilton College
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hamilton College $68,960
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hamilton College $68,960
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Hamilton College $17,510
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Hamilton College $28,719
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hamilton College $55,511
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hamilton College 56%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Hamilton College 8,531
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Hamilton College 1,162
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Hamilton College 13.6%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Hamilton College 39%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hamilton College 1500
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hamilton College 34
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Hamilton College 3.87
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Hamilton College A
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Hamilton College Elite
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Hamilton College Very High
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Hamilton College 33/35
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Hamilton College 1450/1550
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hamilton College Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Hamilton College Jan 5, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hamilton College 9:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hamilton College
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Hamilton College 89%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hamilton College $79,000
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hamilton College 90%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hamilton College $15,760
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hamilton College $162
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hamilton College 44%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Hamilton College 56%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hamilton College Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Hamilton College No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Hamilton College 63%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Hamilton College 7%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Hamilton College 5%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hamilton College 7%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Hamilton College 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hamilton College 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hamilton College 3%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Hamilton College 6%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hamilton College 8%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hamilton College 29%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hamilton College 62%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Hamilton College in Clinton, NY 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 Hamilton College based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 2,031 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Hamilton College is located in Clinton, NY (Rural Fringe setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Hamilton College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Hamilton College 9:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Hamilton College vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hamilton 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 Hamilton College ($18,823 vs. $28,719).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 10.2% lower than at Hamilton College ($15,725 vs. $17,510).
  • Hamilton College is 385% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $54,740 more per year; $68,960.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 78.2% higher at Hamilton College than at George Mason University (about $30,272 more per year; $68,960.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at Hamilton College (71% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hamilton College students is 331.9% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($55,511 vs. $12,852).

Hamilton College vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hamilton 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 Hamilton College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Hamilton College (1500) is 240 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Hamilton College students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hamilton College 1450/1550; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hamilton College 33/35; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hamilton College - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Hamilton College Jan 5, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Hamilton College students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Hamilton College (13.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 39% at Hamilton College vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Hamilton College vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hamilton 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).

  • Hamilton College's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from Hamilton College earn a median of about $17,100 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($79,000 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Hamilton College graduates have a $3,990 lower median loan debt than Mason graduates ($15,760 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, Hamilton College graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mason graduates ($162 vs. $204).
  • More Hamilton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.