Location
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
- University Park, PA
- George Mason University
- Fairfax, VA
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus vs George Mason University
University Park, PA · Fairfax, VA · largest Scorecard gap: avg net price
Scorecard match plate
Pair PA:VA
PUBLIC-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-OPEN · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-GAP · GAP-NET
- PUBLIC-PAIR Public pair
- CROSS-STATE PA × VA
- ACCEPT-OPEN Open admission
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- COMPLETE-GAP Completion gap
- GAP-NET Largest gap · Avg Net Price
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the NET-SPLIT · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Net-price paths do not share a shape
NET-SPLIT · 2013–2023
One school has a directional average-net-price path over 2013–2023; the other sits in a measured range (or the two move opposite ways). Cost gaps on this board are moving targets.
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus: average net price rose +20.6% from $27,032 (2013) to $32,606 (2023), r² 0.60.
- George Mason University: net price ranged $17,385–$21,048 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change -0.1% is not a trend (r² 0.03).
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus: acceptance-rate path 2013–2023 stays non-directional here (r² 0.07).
- George Mason University: acceptance rate eased +43.2% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.80).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
- George Mason University
- 27,752
Avg Net Price
- George Mason University
- $17,915
In-State Tuition
- George Mason University
- $14,220
Acceptance Rate
- George Mason University
- 87.5%
Median Debt at Graduation
- George Mason University
- $19,500
150%-Time Completion
- George Mason University
- 68.6%
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- George Mason University
- $76,343
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- George Mason University
- $60,536
Out-of-State Tuition
- George Mason University
- $38,688
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA | George Mason University Fairfax, VA |
|---|---|---|
| Location | University Park, PA | Fairfax, VA |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 42,284 | 27,752 |
| Avg Net Price | $32,875 | $17,915 |
| In-State Tuition | $20,644 | $14,220 |
| Acceptance Rate | 60.6% | 87.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $25,000 | $19,500 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 85.9% | 68.6% |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $63,435 | $76,343 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $55,620 | $60,536 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $41,790 | $38,688 |
Largest gaps: Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus vs George Mason University
- AVG-NET-PRICE George Mason University leads on avg net price ($17,915 vs $32,875 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus)
- IN-STATE-TUITION George Mason University leads on in-state tuition ($14,220 vs $20,644 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus)
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus leads on acceptance rate (60.6% vs 87.5% at George Mason University)
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus profile · George Mason University profile · Compare other colleges
Avg Net Price and other Scorecard questions
On avg net price, who leads between Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus and George Mason University?▼
George Mason University leads on avg net price at $17,915 versus $32,875 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On in-state tuition, who leads between Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus and George Mason University?▼
George Mason University leads on in-state tuition at $14,220 versus $20,644 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On acceptance rate, who leads between Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus and George Mason University?▼
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus leads on acceptance rate at 60.6% versus 87.5% at George Mason University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); avg net price focus for this pair · 2025