Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Carnegie Mellon University is a private national university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Carnegie Mellon University is very selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Carnegie Mellon University is in the top 5% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $99,998 10 years after enrolling, 2nd in Pennsylvania, and in the top 5% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Carnegie Mellon University bachelor students earn 56% more than the national average. Carnegie Mellon University is ranked 2nd in Pennsylvania.
Carnegie Mellon University’s median net annual cost of $36,775 and average years to graduate of 4.2 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Carnegie Mellon University sorted by number of graduates - Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Business Administration, Statistics, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Science and Theory. - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$36,775
Average years to graduate
4.2
Design & Applied Arts
Rank: #2
Economic score: 0.7
Computer and Information Sciences
Rank: #105
Economic score: 1.65
Mathematics and Statistics, Other
Rank: #2
Economic score: 1.73
Economics
Rank: #59
Economic score: 1.78
Chemical Engineering
Rank: #97
Economic score: 2.09
Rhetoric & Composition
Rank: #4
Economic score: 2.27
Materials Sciences.
Rank: #2
Economic score: 3.44
Chemistry
Rank: #78
Economic score: 3.56
Civil Engineering
Rank: #203
Economic score: 4.96
Drama
Rank: #109
Economic score: 24.62
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Carnegie Mellon University - Computer and Information Sciences, Electrical Engineering, Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering., Civil Engineering - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Design & Applied Arts
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.31
Public Policy Analysis
Rank: #5
Economic score: 0.44
Health Administrative Services
Rank: #70
Economic score: 0.51
Statistics
Rank: #10
Economic score: 0.62
Drama
Rank: #8
Economic score: 0.8
Engineering Fields
Rank: #30
Economic score: 0.85
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Rank: #16
Economic score: 1.08
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Rank: #30
Economic score: 1.48
Computer software
Rank: #15
Economic score: 2.26
Music
Rank: #94
Economic score: 2.53
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.2 years. 78% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Carnegie Mellon University is 12% higher than the state average, and 11% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At Carnegie Mellon University, Pell Grant recipients represent 15% of the measured graduating class, 20% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Carnegie Mellon University graduates within 4.5 years.
Carnegie Mellon University is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Carnegie Mellon University’s economic mobility score of 14.46 is calculated by adjusting the 0.52 economic score of lower-income students by the 15% pell grant recipients within the student body. Carnegie Mellon University’s EMS of 14.46 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Carnegie Mellon University pays $36,775 a year, $39,985 less than the $76,760 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $36,775
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Carnegie Mellon University, 50% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $36,775 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 37% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,148. This is 17% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,672
Pell grants
$5,193
State grants
$3,248
Institutional grants
$37,442
Carnegie Mellon University's very selective admissions are indicated by their 14% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 32,896 applicants, of which 4,453 were admitted and 1,896 enrolled. Carnegie Mellon University doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
47%
59%
First time
95%
59%
In-state
9%
68%
1st generation
10%
35%
White
25%
52%
Black
4%
14%
Hispanic
9%
15%
Asian
35%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
27%
12%