Lehigh vs. Mason

Deciding between Lehigh 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.

Lehigh University
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Lehigh #53
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Lehigh -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Lehigh
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Lehigh 65%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lehigh 32
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Lehigh A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Lehigh High
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Lehigh $250
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Lehigh 52%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Lehigh Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Lehigh No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Lehigh 66%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Lehigh 9%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Lehigh 4%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Lehigh 9%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Lehigh 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Lehigh 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Lehigh 3%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Lehigh 8%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Lehigh 3%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Lehigh 25%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Lehigh 69%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA 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 Lehigh based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lehigh University 10:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Lehigh vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh 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 Lehigh ($18,823 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 8.7% lower than at Lehigh University ($15,725 vs. $17,220).
  • Lehigh University is 357% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $50,760 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 68% higher at Lehigh than at George Mason University (about $26,292 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at Lehigh University (71% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 263.6% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($46,731 vs. $12,852).

Lehigh vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lehigh 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 Lehigh.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 180 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Lehigh students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 1370/1500; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 31/34; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lehigh - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.4% at Lehigh vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Lehigh vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lehigh 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).

  • Lehigh University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $27,300 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $4,506 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($19,750 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($204 vs. $250).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.