Private nonprofit · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large city

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 7,304 undergraduates. Admits 12% of applicants.

94%Graduation rate40 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$35,780Average net price per year80% above the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$125,257Median earnings 10 years after starting113% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$19,000Median debt at graduation12% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($19,000) equals 15% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($125,257). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$14,468
$30,000–$48,000$4,293
$48,001–$75,000$17,816
$75,001–$110,000$24,455
Over $110,000$56,003

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $68,776.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate94%54%
Return for second year98%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$102,216$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$125,257$58,912
Median debt at graduation$19,000$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

151 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations0—$214,695—
Computer Engineering234—$198,216—
Computer and Information Sciences, General825$139,825$197,857—
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering333$157,567$188,555—
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods309$166,093——
Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering98$126,849$163,300—
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management223$103,165$152,128—
Health and Medical Administrative Services26—$151,872—
Computer Software and Media Applications67—$147,793—
Design and Applied Arts0—$140,056—
Mechanical Engineering144$108,718$130,580—
Engineering-Related Fields81—$127,935—
Public Policy Analysis0$80,486$111,300—
Biomedical/Medical Engineering63$94,350$104,076—
Civil Engineering52$73,181$100,848—
Public Administration17$73,597$87,732—
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies13$69,636$82,826—
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management42$53,641$80,268—
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft35$57,438$62,514—
Music45$32,360$48,058—
Architectural Sciences and Technology30———
Computer Science81———
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications73———
Engineering, General15———
Chemical Engineering37———
Engineering Mechanics5———
Engineering Science13———
Operations Research6———
Biological/Biosystems Engineering11———
Engineering, Other41———
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General41———
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians7———
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services10———
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other9———
Biology, General1———
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology56———
Biotechnology11———
Mathematics13———
Applied Mathematics95———
Statistics12———
Behavioral Sciences2———
Computational Science105———
Human Computer Interaction37———
Sustainability Studies18———
Data Science17———
Data Analytics101———
Philosophy4———
Chemistry5———
Physics10———
Materials Sciences35———
Psychology, General2———
Economics5———
International Relations and National Security Studies7———
Visual and Performing Arts, General2———
Fine and Studio Arts6———
Management Information Systems and Services2———
History2———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

12%Admission rate
1,546Average SAT of admitted students
34–35ACT middle 50%
5:1Students per faculty member
19%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does Carnegie Mellon University cost per year?
The average net price at Carnegie Mellon University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $35,780 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Carnegie Mellon University graduates earn?
Former Carnegie Mellon University students earn a median of $125,257 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Carnegie Mellon University?
94% of Carnegie Mellon University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Carnegie Mellon University graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Carnegie Mellon University is $19,000. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.