Lehigh vs. Mason

Should I go to Lehigh University or George Mason University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Lehigh 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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Lehigh University vs. George Mason University comparison
Lehigh University George Mason University College 3 College 4
Lehigh University George Mason University
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Overview

 Lehigh Mason
Location Bethlehem, PA Fairfax, VA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 7,394 39,049
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #54 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lehigh.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Lehigh Mason
Tuition (In State) $58,970 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $58,970 $35,377
Room & Board $15,890 $13,120
Avg Net Price $30,453 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $44,116 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 55% 74%

Admission

 Lehigh Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,163 20,001
Admitted 5,607 18,001
Acceptance Rate 37% 90%
Enrolled % 26.9% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 30/33 25/31
SAT Range 1340/1490 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 Jan 1, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 Lehigh Mason
% Men 54% 48%
% Women 46% 52%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 66% 43%
% Black 4% 11%
% Hispanic 9% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 8% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 5%

Students

 Lehigh Mason
% In-State 21% 77%
% Out-of-State 71% 17%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 7,394 students)

Lehigh vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh or Mason?

  • Lehigh University is 502% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($58,970.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 66.7% higher at Lehigh than George Mason University ($58,970.00 vs. $35,377.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Lehigh ($18,479 vs. $30,453)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 21.1% lower than costs at Lehigh University ($13,120 vs. $15,890)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than Lehigh University (74% vs. 55%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 310% larger than aid received George Mason University ($44,116 vs. $10,760)

Lehigh vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Lehigh University (1338) is 185 points higher than at Mason (1153)
  • Incoming Lehigh students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Mason (26)
  • 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 (90%) than Lehigh (37%)

Lehigh vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lehigh 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 Lehigh.

  • The graduation rate at Lehigh is higher than George Mason University (87% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn on average $27,300 more per year than Mason graduates after ten years. ($89,200 vs. $61,900)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $4,506 lower median federal student loan debt than Lehigh graduates. ($19,750 vs. $24,256)
  • Mason graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans 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/