Michigan State vs. Mason

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

Michigan State Mason
Location East Lansing, MI Fairfax, VA
Setting Rural Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 50,023 39,049
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #240 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msu.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Michigan State Mason
Tuition (In State) $15,192 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $41,778 $35,377
Room & Board $10,990 $13,120
Avg Net Price $22,803 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $8,684 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 74%

Admission

Michigan State Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,341 20,001
Admitted 46,914 18,001
Acceptance Rate 88% 90%
Enrolled % 21% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31 25/31
SAT Range 1160/1360 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

Michigan State Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

Michigan State Mason
Graduation Rate 77% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,000 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,484 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $263 $204

Diversity

Michigan State Mason
% Men 47% 48%
% Women 53% 52%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 43%
% Black 7% 11%
% Hispanic 4% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 13% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

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

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Michigan State University is larger than than Mason based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 39,049 students)

Michigan State vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Mason?

  • Michigan State University is 55.1% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18.1% higher at Michigan State than George Mason University ($41,778.00 vs. $35,377.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Michigan State ($18,479 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 19.4% lower than costs at George Mason University ($10,990 vs. $13,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than George Mason University (92% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 23.9% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($10,760 vs. $8,684)

Michigan State vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Michigan State University (1159) is 6 points higher than at Mason (1153)
  • Incoming Michigan State students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at Mason (26)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Mason (3.68)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than Michigan State (88%)

Michigan State vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Michigan State 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 Michigan State.

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than George Mason University (77% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $1,900 more per year than Michigan State graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $60,000)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $5,734 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($19,750 vs. $25,484)
  • Mason graduates are paying $59 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($204 vs. $263)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 68%)

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