Rutgers vs. Mason

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with George Mason University in Fairfax, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Mason based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 39,766 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Rutgers vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers ($18,823 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 0.1% lower than at George Mason University ($15,714 vs. $15,725).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 26.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $3,709 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at Mason than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $1,247 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (71% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 30.3% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($16,742 vs. $12,852).

Rutgers vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 150 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Rutgers students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Rutgers vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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).

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $2,465 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($19,750 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($204 vs. $229).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 68%)

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.