RPI vs. Mason

Deciding between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 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.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
George Mason University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • RPI Small City
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • RPI 7,040
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RPI #130
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RPI -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RPI
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • RPI $18,120
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • RPI $38,887
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RPI $43,517
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RPI 95%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RPI 17,175
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • RPI 10,901
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RPI 1440
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • RPI 32
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • RPI 3.88
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RPI A
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • RPI Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • RPI 30/34
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RPI Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RPI 14:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RPI 69%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • RPI 31%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RPI High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • RPI No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • RPI 59%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • RPI 10%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • RPI 3%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • RPI 8%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • RPI 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RPI 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RPI 7%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • RPI 11%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RPI 2%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RPI 37%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RPI 58%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY with George Mason University in Fairfax, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

George Mason University is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is located in Troy, NY (Small City setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1; George Mason University 16:1.

RPI vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI 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 RPI ($18,823 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 13.2% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($15,725 vs. $18,120).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 350.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $49,861 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 65.6% higher at RPI than at George Mason University (about $25,393 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at George Mason University (95% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 238.6% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($43,517 vs. $12,852).

RPI vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RPI 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 RPI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 180 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RPI - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RPI Jan 15, 2027; Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • 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 (87.5%) than RPI (63.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at RPI vs. 20.2% at Mason.

RPI vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RPI 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).

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $20,600 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $7,750 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($19,750 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.