Rutgers University-Newark vs. Mason

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

 Rutgers University-Newark Mason
Location Newark, NJ Fairfax, VA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 10,809 39,527
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #186 #239
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rutgers.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Rutgers University-Newark Mason
Tuition (In State) $13,674 $10,095
Tuition (Out of State) $32,436 $35,677
Room & Board $15,060 $15,151
Avg Net Price $17,425 $18,900
Avg Grant Aid $16,298 $11,311
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 72%

Admission

 Rutgers University-Newark Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,779 22,579
Admitted 13,997 20,057
Acceptance Rate 78.7% 88.8%
Enrolled % 10.1% 22.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.68
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 25/30
SAT Range 1030/1270 1140/1340
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026

Academics

 Rutgers University-Newark Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (36%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 Rutgers University-Newark Mason
Graduation Rate 68% 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 University-Newark Mason
% Men 16% 13%
% Women 16% 17%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 25% 43%
% Black 19% 11%
% Hispanic 27% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 4% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

 Rutgers University-Newark Mason
% In-State 96% 77%
% Out-of-State 2% 16%

Campus

 Rutgers University-Newark 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 Rutgers University-Newark based on total student enrollment (39,527 students vs. 10,809 students)

Rutgers University-Newark vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers University-Newark or Mason?

  • Rutgers University Newark is 35.5% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($13,674.00 vs. $10,095.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10% higher at Mason than Rutgers University Newark ($35,677.00 vs. $32,436.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University Newark than Mason ($17,425 vs. $18,900)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University Newark are 0.6% lower than costs at George Mason University ($15,060 vs. $15,151)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rutgers University Newark than George Mason University (77% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University Newark students is 44.1% larger than aid received George Mason University ($16,298 vs. $11,311)

Rutgers University-Newark vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 123 points higher than at Rutgers University-Newark (1030)
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Rutgers University-Newark (3.23)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Rutgers University-Newark (78.7%)

Rutgers University-Newark vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rutgers University-Newark 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 University-Newark.

  • The graduation rate at Rutgers University-Newark is higher than George Mason University (68% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Rutgers University Newark 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 University-Newark graduates. ($19,750 vs. $22,215)
  • Mason graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than Rutgers University-Newark graduates. ($204 vs. $229)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers University-Newark 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/