Penn State vs. Mason

Deciding between Penn State Main Campus 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.

Penn State Main Campus
George Mason University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Penn State Small City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Penn State #185
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Penn State -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Penn State
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Penn State $11,336
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Penn State 37%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State 1330
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State 29
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Penn State -
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Penn State -
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Penn State Very High
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Penn State Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Penn State 27/32
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Penn State
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Penn State 87%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Penn State 69%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Penn State $277
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Penn State 52%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Penn State 48%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Penn State Medium
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Penn State No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Penn State 69%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Penn State 6%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Penn State 4%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Penn State 6%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Penn State 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Penn State 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Penn State 3%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Penn State 11%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Penn State 2%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Penn State 53%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Penn State 40%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA with George Mason University in Fairfax, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Mason based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 39,766 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State Main Campus is located in University Park, PA (Small City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Main Campus 16:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Penn State vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State 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 Penn State ($18,823 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 8% lower than at George Mason University ($14,474 vs. $15,725).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 45.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $6,424 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8% higher at Penn State than at George Mason University (about $3,102 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at Penn State Main Campus (71% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 13.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($12,852 vs. $11,336).

Penn State vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State 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 Penn State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 70 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 27/32; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Penn State vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Penn State vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $7,068 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($19,750 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($204 vs. $277).
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 69%)

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.