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JMU VCU Virginia Tech CNU Old Dominion UVA UMBC Penn State Berks UNC Charlotte UB William & Mary Mary Washington College| Penn State Altoona | George Mason University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Penn State Altoona | Mason | ||
| Location | Altoona, PA | Fairfax, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 2,421 | 39,527 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #618 | #239 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | psu.edu | gmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Penn State Altoona | Mason | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $15,388 | $10,095 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,112 | $35,677 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,820 | $15,151 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,506 | $18,900 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,730 | $11,311 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 64% | 72% |
Admission |
Penn State Altoona | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,134 | 22,579 | ||
| Admitted | 6,942 | 20,057 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97.3% | 88.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.4% | 22.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.4 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/27 | 25/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1260 | 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 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Penn State Altoona | Mason | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Penn State Altoona | Mason | ||
| Graduation Rate | 65% | 64% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,300 | $61,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 73% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,818 | $19,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $277 | $204 |
Diversity |
Penn State Altoona | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 13% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 5% | ||
| % International | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
Penn State Altoona | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 59% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 35% | 16% | ||
Campus |
Penn State Altoona | Mason | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | 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 Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (39,527 students vs. 2,421 students)
Penn State Altoona vs. Mason Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Mason?
- Penn State Altoona is 52.4% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $10,095.00)
- Out of state tuition is 36.6% higher at Mason than Penn State Altoona ($35,677.00 vs. $26,112.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Penn State Altoona ($18,900 vs. $22,506)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 9.6% lower than costs at George Mason University ($13,820 vs. $15,151)
- More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than Penn State Altoona (72% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 29.6% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($11,311 vs. $8,730)
Penn State Altoona vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Altoona or Mason? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mason or Penn State Altoona .
- The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 160 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (993)
- Incoming Mason students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Penn State Altoona (22)
- Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4)
- Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than Mason (88.8%)
Penn State Altoona vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Penn State Altoona 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 Penn State Altoona.
- The graduation rate at Penn State Altoona is higher than George Mason University (65% vs. 64%)
- Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $6,600 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $55,300)
- George Mason University students graduate with a $7,068 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($19,750 vs. $26,818)
- Mason graduates are paying $73 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($204 vs. $277)
- More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona 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/