Bentley University vs George Mason University (GMU)
Bentley University and George Mason University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences to their students. Bentley, a private university in Waltham, Massachusetts, boasts a strong business and finance curriculum, while George Mason, a public research university in Fairfax, Virginia, excels in engineering, computer science, and public policy. With acceptance rates of 38% and 73%, respectively, these universities cater to different levels of academic competitiveness. Bentley's student body is predominantly undergraduate, with a focus on career preparation, while George Mason's diverse student population includes a significant graduate student presence and a wider range of academic pursuits. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these universities' graduation rates, popular majors, and other key differences that may influence your choice of higher education.
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![]() Bentley University |
![]() George Mason University |
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Overview |
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Location | Waltham, Massachusetts | Fairfax, Virginia |
Campus setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 91.0% | 84.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 60.9% | 91.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$150
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Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$75
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SAT range | 1240 - 1413 | 1140 - 1350 |
ACT range | 28 - 32 | 25 - 30 |
Students submitting SAT score | 27.0% | 37.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 5.0% | 3.0% |
Total number of applicants | 9,311 | 20,527 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,674 | 18,741 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,019 | 3,986 |
Yield rate | 18.0% | 21.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $75,615 |
In state:
$35,263
Out of state:
$58,723
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Average net price | $41,708 | $18,841 |
Tuition | $54,910 |
In state:
$9,510
Out of state:
$32,970
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$11,000
Meal plan:
$7,130
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Room/dormitory:
$7,620
Meal plan:
$5,010
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
77.0%
Average amount $30,491 |
70.0%
Average amount $10,110 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
44.0%
Average amount $5,402 |
43.0%
Average amount $5,006 |
Students taking out private loans |
9.0%
Average amount $21,755 |
6.0%
Average amount $18,474 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,996
Men 60.6% Women 39.4% |
26,882
Men 50.4% Women 49.6% |
Graduate students |
1,162
Men 47.6% Women 52.4% |
11,746
Men 40.7% Women 59.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 18.9% |
International students | 16.8% | 8.0% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 3,350 | 6,513 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Mississippi Connecticut New York New Jersey New Hampshire | Virginia Maryland District of Columbia Pennsylvania New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 16:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 88.0% | 70.1% |
Dropout rate | 4.0% | 9.6% |
Transferred out | 7.9% | 16.5% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Human Computer Interaction (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Taxation (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Homeland Security (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Medical Illustration and Informatics (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
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