Arcadia vs. Mason

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

Arcadia Mason
Location Glenside, PA Fairfax, VA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,026 39,049
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #502 #228
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website arcadia.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Arcadia Mason
Tuition (In State) $46,430 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $46,430 $35,377
Room & Board $13,720 $13,120
Avg Net Price $29,692 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $30,934 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 74%

Admission

Arcadia Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,321 20,001
Admitted 4,903 18,001
Acceptance Rate 77.6% 90%
Enrolled % 10% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/29 25/31
SAT Range 1088/1320 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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Arcadia Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

Arcadia Mason
Graduation Rate 62% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $279 $204

Diversity

Arcadia Mason
% Men 32% 48%
% Women 68% 52%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 43%
% Black 9% 11%
% Hispanic 8% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

Arcadia Mason
% In-State 62% 77%
% Out-of-State 37% 17%

Campus

Arcadia Mason
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No 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 Arcadia based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 3,026 students)

Arcadia vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or Mason?

  • Arcadia University is 374% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($46,430.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31.2% higher at Arcadia than George Mason University ($46,430.00 vs. $35,377.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Arcadia ($18,479 vs. $29,692)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 4.6% lower than costs at Arcadia University ($13,120 vs. $13,720)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Arcadia University than George Mason University (99% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 187.5% larger than aid received George Mason University ($30,934 vs. $10,760)

Arcadia vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 49 points higher than at Arcadia (1104)
  • Incoming Mason students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Arcadia (25)
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Arcadia (3.42)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than Arcadia (77.6%)

Arcadia vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Arcadia 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 Arcadia.

  • The graduation rate at Mason is higher than Arcadia University (64% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $15,500 more per year than Arcadia graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $46,400)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $7,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Arcadia graduates. ($19,750 vs. $27,000)
  • Mason graduates are paying $75 less per month on federal student loans than Arcadia graduates. ($204 vs. $279)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Arcadia 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/