Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
JMU VCU Virginia Tech CNU Old Dominion UVA UMBC UNC Charlotte UB William & Mary Mary Washington College Penn State Abington| Penn State Brandywine | George Mason University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Penn State Brandywine | Mason | ||
| Location | Media, PA | Fairfax, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 1,196 | 39,049 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #729 | #228 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | psu.edu | gmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Penn State Brandywine | Mason | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $14,624 | $9,795 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,318 | $35,377 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,930 | $13,120 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,600 | $18,479 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,638 | $10,760 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 70% | 74% |
Admission |
Penn State Brandywine | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,440 | 20,001 | ||
| Admitted | 2,347 | 18,001 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96.2% | 90% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17% | 23% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/31 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1070/1285 | 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 |
Penn State Brandywine | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Penn State Brandywine | Mason | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 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 Brandywine | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 61% | 48% | ||
| % Women | 39% | 52% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 63% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 5% | ||
| % International | 1% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 5% |
Students |
Penn State Brandywine | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 74% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 24% | 17% | ||
Campus |
Penn State Brandywine | Mason | ||
| Campus Housing | No | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | 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 Brandywine based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 1,196 students)
Penn State Brandywine vs. Mason Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Penn State Brandywine or Mason?
- Penn State Brandywine is 49.3% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($14,624.00 vs. $9,795.00)
- Out of state tuition is 45.5% higher at Mason than Penn State Brandywine ($35,377.00 vs. $24,318.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Penn State Brandywine ($18,479 vs. $21,600)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 6.2% lower than costs at Penn State Brandywine ($13,120 vs. $13,930)
- More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than Penn State Brandywine (74% vs. 70%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 11.6% larger than aid received Penn State Brandywine ($10,760 vs. $9,638)
Penn State Brandywine vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Brandywine or Mason? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mason or Penn State Brandywine .
- The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 184 points higher than at Penn State Brandywine (969)
- Incoming Mason students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Penn State Brandywine (22)
- Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (96.2%) than Mason (90%)
Penn State Brandywine vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine.
- The graduation rate at Mason is higher than Penn State Brandywine (64% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $6,600 more per year than Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine graduates. ($19,750 vs. $26,818)
- Mason graduates are paying $73 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Brandywine graduates. ($204 vs. $277)
- More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Brandywine 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/