Houghton College vs. Mason

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

Houghton College Mason
Location Houghton, NY Fairfax, VA
Setting Remote Rural Large Suburban
Enrollment 833 39,049
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #228
Religious Affiliation Wesleyan - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website houghton.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Houghton College Mason
Tuition (In State) $15,900 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $15,900 $35,377
Room & Board $10,336 $13,120
Avg Net Price $21,550 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $8,587 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 74%

Admission

Houghton College Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 974 20,001
Admitted 750 18,001
Acceptance Rate 77% 90%
Enrolled % 24% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.25 3.68
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31
SAT Range 1110/1320 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

Houghton College Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

Houghton College Mason
Graduation Rate 68% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,300 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,500 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $263 $204

Diversity

Houghton College Mason
% Men 37% 48%
% Women 63% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 78% 43%
% Black 3% 11%
% Hispanic 2% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 11% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

Houghton College Mason
% In-State 58% 77%
% Out-of-State 34% 17%

Campus

Houghton College 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 Houghton College based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 833 students)

Houghton College vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Houghton College or Mason?

  • Houghton College is 62.3% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($15,900.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 122.5% higher at Mason than Houghton College ($35,377.00 vs. $15,900.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Houghton College ($18,479 vs. $21,550)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Houghton College are 26.9% lower than costs at George Mason University ($10,336 vs. $13,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Houghton College than George Mason University (99% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 25.3% larger than aid received Houghton College ($10,760 vs. $8,587)

Houghton College vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 43 points higher than at Houghton College (1110)
  • Incoming Mason students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Houghton College (25)
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Houghton College (3.25)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than Houghton College (77%)

Houghton College vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Houghton College 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 Houghton College.

  • The graduation rate at Houghton College is higher than George Mason University (68% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $17,600 more per year than Houghton College graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $44,300)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $5,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Houghton College graduates. ($19,750 vs. $25,500)
  • Mason graduates are paying $59 less per month on federal student loans than Houghton College graduates. ($204 vs. $263)
  • More Houghton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/