Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
USD JMU UCSD UC Riverside VCU Cal State Fullerton Cal Poly Cal State Long Beach Virginia Tech CNU UCSC San Francisco State| San Diego State University | George Mason University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
San Diego State | Mason | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Fairfax, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 37,402 | 39,049 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #337 | #228 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sdsu.edu | gmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
San Diego State | Mason | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $9,795 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $35,377 | ||
| Room & Board | $19,714 | $13,120 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,017 | $18,479 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,934 | $10,760 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 43% | 74% |
Admission |
San Diego State | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 77,250 | 20,001 | ||
| Admitted | 30,331 | 18,001 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 39.3% | 90% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.7% | 23% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.82 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 22/29 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1090/1300 | 1140/1350 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2023 | Feb 1, 2024 |
Academics |
San Diego State | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 25:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
San Diego State | Mason | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 64% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,400 | $61,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 65% | 73% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $15,349 | $19,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $158 | $204 |
Diversity |
San Diego State | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 48% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 52% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 34% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 31% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 5% | ||
| % International | 6% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 5% |
Students |
San Diego State | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 21% | 17% | ||
Campus |
San Diego State | 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 San Diego State based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 37,402 students)
San Diego State vs. Mason Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, San Diego State or Mason?
- George Mason University is 70.6% more expensive to attend than San Diego State for in-state tuition ($9,795.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 100.8% higher at Mason than San Diego State University ($35,377.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Diego State University than Mason ($13,017 vs. $18,479)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 50.3% lower than costs at San Diego State University ($13,120 vs. $19,714)
- More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than San Diego State University (74% vs. 43%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 8.3% larger than aid received San Diego State University ($10,760 vs. $9,934)
San Diego State vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, San Diego State or Mason? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mason or San Diego State .
- The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 23 points higher than at San Diego State (1130)
- Incoming Mason students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at San Diego State (25)
- Accepted freshman San Diego State students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Mason (3.68)
- Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than San Diego State (39.3%)
San Diego State vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, San Diego 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 San Diego State.
- The graduation rate at San Diego State is higher than George Mason University (66% vs. 64%)
- Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $8,500 more per year than San Diego State graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $53,400)
- San Diego State University students graduate with a $4,401 lower median federal student loan debt than Mason graduates. ($15,349 vs. $19,750)
- San Diego State graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Mason graduates. ($158 vs. $204)
- More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 65%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/