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JMU Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass VCU UB NC State Michigan State CNU| Penn State Main Campus | George Mason University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Penn State | Mason | ||
| Location | University Park, PA | Fairfax, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 50,028 | 39,049 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #167 | #228 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | psu.edu | gmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Penn State | Mason | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $18,368 | $9,795 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $35,946 | $35,377 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,744 | $13,120 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,747 | $18,479 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,066 | $10,760 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 44% | 74% |
Admission |
Penn State | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 85,784 | 20,001 | ||
| Admitted | 47,360 | 18,001 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 55.2% | 90% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.5% | 23% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1210/1390 | 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 |
Penn State | Mason | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Penn State | Mason | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 64% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,300 | $61,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 73% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,818 | $19,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $277 | $204 |
Diversity |
Penn State | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 53% | 48% | ||
| % Women | 47% | 52% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 69% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 11% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 5% |
Students |
Penn State | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 51% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 17% | ||
Campus |
Penn State | Mason | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Mason based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 39,049 students)
Penn State vs. Mason Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Penn State or Mason?
- Penn State Main Campus is 87.5% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $9,795.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.6% higher at Penn State than George Mason University ($35,946.00 vs. $35,377.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Penn State ($18,479 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 3% lower than costs at George Mason University ($12,744 vs. $13,120)
- More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than Penn State Main Campus (74% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 6.9% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($10,760 vs. $10,066)
Penn State vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Penn State or Mason? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mason or Penn State .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 49 points higher than at Mason (1153)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Mason (26)
- Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than Penn State (55.2%)
Penn State vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Penn State 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 Penn State.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than George Mason University (87% vs. 64%)
- Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $6,600 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $55,300)
- George Mason University students graduate with a $7,068 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($19,750 vs. $26,818)
- Mason graduates are paying $73 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($204 vs. $277)
- More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/