Lafayette College vs. Mason

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

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Lehigh JMU Bucknell VCU Villanova Virginia Tech CNU Old Dominion UVA UMBC Fordham Union College
Lafayette College vs. George Mason University comparison
Lafayette College George Mason University College 3 College 4
Lafayette College George Mason University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Lafayette College Mason
Location Easton, PA Fairfax, VA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,764 39,527
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #66 #239
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lafayette.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lafayette College Mason
Tuition (In State) $61,482 $10,095
Tuition (Out of State) $61,482 $35,677
Room & Board $18,640 $15,151
Avg Net Price $34,728 $18,900
Avg Grant Aid $44,126 $11,311
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 72%

Admission

Lafayette College Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,874 22,579
Admitted 3,107 20,057
Acceptance Rate 31.5% 88.8%
Enrolled % 22.4% 22.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 30/33 25/30
SAT Range 1340/1490 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 Jan 15, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Lafayette College Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Engineering (19%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

Lafayette College Mason
Graduation Rate 88% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $81,000 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 91% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $268 $204

Diversity

Lafayette College Mason
% Men 0% 13%
% Women 0% 17%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 43%
% Black 5% 11%
% Hispanic 6% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 9% 5%
% Unknown Race 7% 5%

Students

Lafayette College Mason
% In-State 13% 77%
% Out-of-State 79% 16%

Campus

Lafayette College Mason
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes 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 Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (39,527 students vs. 2,764 students)

Lafayette College vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lafayette College or Mason?

  • Lafayette College is 509% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($61,482.00 vs. $10,095.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 72.3% higher at Lafayette College than George Mason University ($61,482.00 vs. $35,677.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Lafayette College ($18,900 vs. $34,728)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 23% lower than costs at Lafayette College ($15,151 vs. $18,640)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than Lafayette College (72% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 290.1% larger than aid received George Mason University ($44,126 vs. $11,311)

Lafayette College vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Lafayette College (1294) is 141 points higher than at Mason (1153)
  • Incoming Lafayette College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Mason (26)
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Lafayette College (3.53)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Lafayette College (31.5%)

Lafayette College vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lafayette 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 Lafayette College.

  • The graduation rate at Lafayette College is higher than George Mason University (88% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Lafayette College earn on average $19,100 more per year than Mason graduates after ten years. ($81,000 vs. $61,900)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $6,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Lafayette College graduates. ($19,750 vs. $26,000)
  • Mason graduates are paying $64 less per month on federal student loans than Lafayette College graduates. ($204 vs. $268)
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 73%)

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