Princeton vs. Mason

Should I go to Princeton University or George Mason University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Princeton 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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Princeton University vs. George Mason University comparison
Princeton University George Mason University College 3 College 4
Princeton University George Mason University
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Overview

Princeton Mason
Location Princeton, NJ Fairfax, VA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 8,842 39,049
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website princeton.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Princeton Mason
Tuition (In State) $57,410 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $57,410 $35,377
Room & Board $18,630 $13,120
Avg Net Price $18,698 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $59,792 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 61% 74%

Admission

Princeton Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 38,019 20,001
Admitted 2,167 18,001
Acceptance Rate 5.7% 90%
Enrolled % 69.2% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.93 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Difficult
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 33/35 25/31
SAT Range 1490/1580 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 Jan 1, 2024 Feb 1, 2024

Academics

Princeton Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 5:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • History (7%)
  • Human Services (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

Princeton Mason
Graduation Rate 96% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $113,900 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $7,500 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $77 $204

Diversity

Princeton Mason
% Men 53% 48%
% Women 47% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 45% 43%
% Black 8% 11%
% Hispanic 9% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 11% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

Princeton Mason
% In-State 16% 77%
% Out-of-State 69% 17%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than Princeton based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 8,842 students)

Princeton vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Princeton or Mason?

  • Princeton University is 486.1% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($57,410.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 62.3% higher at Princeton than George Mason University ($57,410.00 vs. $35,377.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Princeton ($18,479 vs. $18,698)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 42% lower than costs at Princeton University ($13,120 vs. $18,630)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than Princeton University (74% vs. 61%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 455.7% larger than aid received George Mason University ($59,792 vs. $10,760)

Princeton vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Princeton University (1490) is 337 points higher than at Mason (1153)
  • Incoming Princeton students have a 8 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at Mason (26)
  • Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Mason (3.68)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than Princeton (5.7%)

Princeton vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Princeton 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 Princeton.

  • The graduation rate at Princeton is higher than George Mason University (96% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Princeton University earn on average $52,000 more per year than Mason graduates after ten years. ($113,900 vs. $61,900)
  • Princeton University students graduate with a $12,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Mason graduates. ($7,500 vs. $19,750)
  • Princeton graduates are paying $127 less per month on federal student loans than Mason graduates. ($77 vs. $204)
  • More Princeton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 73%)

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