MSU vs. Mason

Should I go to Montana State University or George Mason University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MSU or Mason is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Montana State University vs. George Mason University comparison
Montana State University George Mason University College 3 College 4
Montana State University George Mason University
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Overview

 MSU Mason
Location Bozeman, MT Fairfax, VA
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 16,681 39,049
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #590 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website montana.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MSU Mason
Tuition (In State) $5,824 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $27,391 $35,377
Room & Board $11,300 $13,120
Avg Net Price $17,250 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $5,749 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 74%

Admission

 MSU Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 28,794 20,001
Admitted 21,116 18,001
Acceptance Rate 73.3% 90%
Enrolled % 17.8% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/27 25/31
SAT Range 1070/1290 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 Feb 1, 2024

Academics

 MSU Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 MSU Mason
Graduation Rate 51% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,800 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $248 $204

Diversity

 MSU Mason
% Men 52% 48%
% Women 48% 52%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 86% 43%
% Black 1% 11%
% Hispanic 4% 13%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

 MSU Mason
% In-State 35% 77%
% Out-of-State 65% 17%

Campus

 MSU Mason
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 16,681 students)

MSU vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU or Mason?

  • George Mason University is 68.2% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($9,795.00 vs. $5,824.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 29.2% higher at Mason than Montana State University ($35,377.00 vs. $27,391.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montana State University than Mason ($17,250 vs. $18,479)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 16.1% lower than costs at George Mason University ($11,300 vs. $13,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than George Mason University (100% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 87.2% larger than aid received Montana State University ($10,760 vs. $5,749)

MSU vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MSU or Mason? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mason or MSU .

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 22 points higher than at MSU (1131)
  • Incoming Mason students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at MSU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at MSU (3.5)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than MSU (73.3%)

MSU vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MSU 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 MSU.

  • The graduation rate at Mason is higher than Montana State University (64% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $16,100 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $45,800)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $4,250 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $24,000)
  • Mason graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($204 vs. $248)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 71%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/