US CollegesGetting in
Carnegie Mellon University admits 12% of those who apply, which makes it among the most selective in the country. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1546 out of 1600 (midpoints: 735 in reading and writing, 785 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 34 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees for a year | $68,776 |
| Room and meals on campus | $18,894 |
| Books and supplies | $1,000 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $86,759 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $35,780 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off. It is 67% above the median net price of colleges in Pennsylvania on this site ($21,445). International students normally pay the published tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $14,468 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $4,293 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $17,816 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $24,455 |
| Above $110,000 | $56,003 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | PA median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 98% | 78% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 94% | 57% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $125,257 | $62,618 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $19,000 | $24,500 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Pennsylvania and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
19% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 32% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 49% women and 51% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 14 of the 154 colleges in Pennsylvania on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,488.
Other colleges in Pennsylvania of a similar size
- Pennsylvania Western UniversityCalifornia, public
- Villanova UniversityVillanova, private nonprofit
- Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock, public
- Indiana University of PennsylvaniaIndiana, public
- Pennsylvania State University-World CampusUniversity Park, public
- Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztown, public
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Carnegie Mellon University?
Carnegie Mellon University admits 12% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon University?
Published tuition and fees are $68,776 a year. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Carnegie Mellon University?
94% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.