Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Mason

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport, 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 Penn State Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 352 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Greater Allegheny is located in McKeesport, PA (Large Suburban setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Greater Allegheny is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Greater Allegheny 9:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Penn State Greater Allegheny than Mason ($15,574 vs. $18,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Greater Allegheny are 8% lower than at George Mason University ($14,474 vs. $15,725).
• Penn State Greater Allegheny is 1.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $188 more per year; $14,408.00 vs. $14,220.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 60.3% higher at Mason than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $14,554 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Greater Allegheny than at George Mason University (86% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 15.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students ($12,852 vs. $11,121).

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Greater Allegheny or Mason? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Mason and Penn State Greater Allegheny.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at George Mason University (1260) is 80 points higher than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280; George Mason University 1160/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresGeorge Mason University 25/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Mason (87.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Greater Allegheny and Mason? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• George Mason University's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Penn State Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $7,068 lower median loan debt than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates ($19,750 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates ($204 vs. $277).
• More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Greater Allegheny 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.