Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Mason

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

 Penn State Erie-Behrend College Mason
Location Erie, PA Fairfax, VA
Setting Rural Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,295 39,049
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #503 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website psu.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Penn State Erie-Behrend College Mason
Tuition (In State) $15,388 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $25,854 $35,377
Room & Board $12,984 $13,120
Avg Net Price $21,968 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $9,685 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 71% 74%

Admission

 Penn State Erie-Behrend College Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,363 20,001
Admitted 4,164 18,001
Acceptance Rate 95.4% 90%
Enrolled % 19.9% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.49 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/30 25/31
SAT Range 1095/1330 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 Erie-Behrend College Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (38%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 Penn State Erie-Behrend College Mason
Graduation Rate 66% 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 Erie-Behrend College Mason
% Men 64% 48%
% Women 36% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 79% 43%
% Black 4% 11%
% Hispanic 2% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 9% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

 Penn State Erie-Behrend College Mason
% In-State 74% 77%
% Out-of-State 19% 17%

Campus

 Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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 Penn State Erie-Behrend College based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 3,295 students)

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Erie-Behrend College or Mason?

  • Penn State Erie Behrend College is 57.1% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.8% higher at Mason than Penn State Erie Behrend College ($35,377.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Penn State Erie-Behrend College ($18,479 vs. $21,968)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Erie Behrend College are 1% lower than costs at George Mason University ($12,984 vs. $13,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than Penn State Erie Behrend College (74% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 11.1% larger than aid received Penn State Erie Behrend College ($10,760 vs. $9,685)

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 99 points higher than at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (1054)
  • Incoming Mason students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (23)
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (3.49)
  • Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (95.4%) than Mason (90%)

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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 Erie-Behrend College.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Erie-Behrend College is higher than George Mason University (66% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $6,600 more per year than Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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 Erie-Behrend College graduates. ($19,750 vs. $26,818)
  • Mason graduates are paying $73 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates. ($204 vs. $277)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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/