Carnegie Mellon University
A good fit for high-achieving applicants seeking a top-tier program and students focused on high earning potential. no major red flags in the data. graduates earn a median of $103,000 within 10 years; exceptional 93% graduation rate.
About This School
Carnegie Mellon University is a private nonprofit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with approximately 7,187 undergraduate students enrolled. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 11%. The average net price after financial aid is $31,671 per year. The graduation rate is 93%, and the typical graduate earns $103,000 within 10 years of enrollment.
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The institution was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools. In 1912, it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology and began granting four-year degrees. In 1967, it became Carnegie Mellon University through its merger with the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research, founded in 1913 by Andrew Mellon and Richard B. Mellon and formerly a part of the University of Pittsburgh.
This is a strong option for students serious about tech, engineering, or the arts — a 97% freshman retention rate and $103,000 median earnings after 10 years signal that students who get in tend to thrive and land well. At 11% acceptance, admission is highly competitive, so apply with a clear sense of which CMU program fits you specifically, since the school's colleges vary significantly in culture and selectivity. The average net price of ~$31,671/year is real money, but with median debt at graduation of just $20,250, the return on investment here is genuinely strong.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (7,187 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in Pennsylvania
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University Park, PA · Public
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA · Public
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA · Public
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, PA · Public
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit
Community College of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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