Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
JMU VCU Virginia Tech CNU Old Dominion UVA UMBC UNC Charlotte UB William & Mary Mary Washington College ASU| Arcadia University | George Mason University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Arcadia | Mason | ||
| Location | Glenside, PA | Fairfax, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 3,142 | 39,527 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #471 | #239 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | arcadia.edu | gmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Arcadia | Mason | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $47,590 | $10,095 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $47,590 | $35,677 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,250 | $15,151 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,994 | $18,900 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $34,234 | $11,311 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 72% |
Admission |
Arcadia | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,688 | 22,579 | ||
| Admitted | 5,296 | 20,057 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 79.2% | 88.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 7.9% | 22.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/30 | 25/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1083/1310 | 1140/1340 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
Arcadia | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
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 | 11% | 13% | ||
| % Women | 28% | 17% | ||
| 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 | 66% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 32% | 16% | ||
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 (39,527 students vs. 3,142 students)
Arcadia vs. Mason Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Arcadia or Mason?
- Arcadia University is 371.4% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($47,590.00 vs. $10,095.00)
- Out of state tuition is 33.4% higher at Arcadia than George Mason University ($47,590.00 vs. $35,677.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Arcadia ($18,900 vs. $26,994)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 7.3% lower than costs at Arcadia University ($15,151 vs. $16,250)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Arcadia University than George Mason University (100% vs. 72%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 202.7% larger than aid received George Mason University ($34,234 vs. $11,311)
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 (88.8%) than Arcadia (79.2%)
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/