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 94% graduation rate.
About This School
Carnegie Mellon University is a private nonprofit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with approximately 7,304 undergraduate students enrolled. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 12%. The average net price after financial aid is $31,944 per year. The graduation rate is 94%, 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
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 36% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Carnegie Mellon University graduates earn most above the national rate in Computer Science ($268,121 vs $107,009 nationally).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 270 | $268,121 | $107,009 | +$161,112 |
| Statistics | 172 | $156,743 | $92,425 | +$64,318 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 157 | $250,168 | $100,647 | +$149,521 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 151 | $160,783 | $68,257 | +$92,526 |
| Systems Science and Theory | 118 | $146,929 | $88,036 | +$58,893 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 111 | $187,437 | $92,374 | +$95,063 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 107 | $105,623 | $92,135 | +$13,488 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 64 | $40,073 | $39,775 | +$298 |
| Economics | 55 | $144,886 | $82,686 | +$62,200 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 42 | $138,588 | $51,490 | +$87,098 |
| Chemical Engineering | 41 | $110,378 | $98,158 | +$12,220 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 36 | $109,648 | $93,451 | +$16,197 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
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 (7,304 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Carnegie Mellon University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Carnegie Mellon University?
Carnegie Mellon University has an acceptance rate of 12%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Carnegie Mellon University hard to get into?
Yes. With an acceptance rate of 12%, Carnegie Mellon University is highly selective, so strong grades, a rigorous course load, and a standout application matter.
How much does Carnegie Mellon University cost?
The average net price at Carnegie Mellon University is about $31,944 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Carnegie Mellon University?
Carnegie Mellon University has a graduation rate of 94%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
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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