Rutgers vs. Mason

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

 Rutgers Mason
Location New Brunswick, NJ Fairfax, VA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 50,637 39,049
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #112 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rutgers.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Rutgers Mason
Tuition (In State) $12,900 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $30,600 $35,377
Room & Board $13,909 $13,120
Avg Net Price $17,535 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $12,785 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 74%

Admission

 Rutgers Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 41,654 20,001
Admitted 27,612 18,001
Acceptance Rate 66.3% 90%
Enrolled % 28.2% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/33 25/31
SAT Range 1270/1480 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

 Rutgers Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 Rutgers Mason
Graduation Rate 77% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,200 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,215 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $229 $204

Diversity

 Rutgers Mason
% Men 46% 48%
% Women 54% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 42% 43%
% Black 7% 11%
% Hispanic 13% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 7% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

 Rutgers Mason
% In-State 85% 77%
% Out-of-State 8% 17%

Campus

 Rutgers Mason
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than than Mason based on total student enrollment (50,637 students vs. 39,049 students)

Rutgers vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Mason?

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 31.7% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($12,900.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.6% higher at Mason than Rutgers University New Brunswick ($35,377.00 vs. $30,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than Mason ($17,535 vs. $18,479)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 6% lower than costs at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($13,120 vs. $13,909)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at George Mason University than Rutgers University New Brunswick (74% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 18.8% larger than aid received George Mason University ($12,785 vs. $10,760)

Rutgers vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1225) is 72 points higher than at Mason (1153)
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Rutgers (3.3)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than Rutgers (66.3%)

Rutgers vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The graduation rate at Rutgers is higher than George Mason University (77% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn on average $4,300 more per year than Mason graduates after ten years. ($66,200 vs. $61,900)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $2,465 lower median federal student loan debt than Rutgers graduates. ($19,750 vs. $22,215)
  • Mason graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than Rutgers graduates. ($204 vs. $229)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 68%)

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