Swarthmore vs. Mason

Deciding between Swarthmore College 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.

Swarthmore College
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Swarthmore -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Swarthmore
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Swarthmore 57%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Swarthmore A
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Swarthmore $201
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Swarthmore No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Swarthmore 3%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Swarthmore 77%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, 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 Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Swarthmore College is located in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Swarthmore College 7:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Swarthmore vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Swarthmore 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 Swarthmore ($18,823 vs. $22,469).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 22.6% lower than at Swarthmore College ($15,725 vs. $20,308).
  • Swarthmore College is 360.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $51,274 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 69.3% higher at Swarthmore than at George Mason University (about $26,806 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at Swarthmore College (71% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 379.6% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($61,634 vs. $12,852).

Swarthmore vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Swarthmore 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 Swarthmore.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 270 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Swarthmore College 1490/1560; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Swarthmore College 33/35; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Swarthmore - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.8% at Swarthmore vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Swarthmore vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Swarthmore 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).

  • Swarthmore College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than Mason graduates ($19,500 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mason graduates ($201 vs. $204).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 73%)

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.