RPI vs. Mason

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

 RPI Mason
Location Troy, NY Fairfax, VA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,968 39,049
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #110 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rpi.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 RPI Mason
Tuition (In State) $58,600 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $58,600 $35,377
Room & Board $16,980 $13,120
Avg Net Price $39,127 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $38,636 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 74%

Admission

 RPI Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,863 20,001
Admitted 10,878 18,001
Acceptance Rate 64.5% 90%
Enrolled % 18.4% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/34 25/31
SAT Range 1360/1520 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 Jan 15, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 RPI Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 RPI Mason
Graduation Rate 84% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,500 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $284 $204

Diversity

 RPI Mason
% Men 69% 48%
% Women 31% 52%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 43%
% Black 3% 11%
% Hispanic 8% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 5%
% International 11% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

 RPI Mason
% In-State 36% 77%
% Out-of-State 58% 17%

Campus

 RPI Mason
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes 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 RPI based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 6,968 students)

RPI vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or Mason?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 498.3% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($58,600.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 65.6% higher at RPI than George Mason University ($58,600.00 vs. $35,377.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than RPI ($18,479 vs. $39,127)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 29.4% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($13,120 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than George Mason University (90% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 259.1% larger than aid received George Mason University ($38,636 vs. $10,760)

RPI vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 215 points higher than at Mason (1153)
  • Incoming RPI students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Mason (26)
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Mason (3.68)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than RPI (64.5%)

RPI vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, RPI 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 RPI.

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than George Mason University (84% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $20,600 more per year than Mason graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $61,900)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $7,750 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($19,750 vs. $27,500)
  • Mason graduates are paying $80 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($204 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 73%)

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