Colgate vs. Mason

Deciding between Colgate University 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.

Colgate University
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colgate #30
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colgate -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Colgate
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colgate $58,334
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colgate 43%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colgate 1490
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colgate 33
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colgate A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colgate Very High
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Colgate 33/34
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colgate 9:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Colgate 92%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Colgate $75,300
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Colgate 86%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Colgate $16,125
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Colgate $166
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colgate 43%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Colgate 57%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colgate Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Colgate No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Colgate 67%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Colgate 4%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Colgate 4%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colgate 9%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Colgate 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colgate 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colgate 3%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Colgate 9%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colgate 4%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colgate 25%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colgate 66%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Colgate University in Hamilton, NY 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 Colgate based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colgate University is located in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colgate University 9:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Colgate vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate 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 Colgate ($18,823 vs. $28,736).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 10.7% lower than at Colgate University ($15,725 vs. $17,610).
  • Colgate University is 394.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $56,086 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 81.7% higher at Colgate than at George Mason University (about $31,618 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at Colgate University (71% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 353.9% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($58,334 vs. $12,852).

Colgate vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colgate 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 Colgate.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colgate University (1490) is 230 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 1430/1540; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 33/34; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colgate - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Colgate students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Colgate (13.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.7% at Colgate vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Colgate vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colgate 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).

  • Colgate University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from Colgate University earn a median of about $13,400 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,300 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $3,625 lower median loan debt than Mason graduates ($16,125 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mason graduates ($166 vs. $204).
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.