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Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University is a private campus in Pittsburgh proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. International students are a visible presence at Carnegie Mellon University — 19.1% of its 7,304 undergraduates come from outside the U.S.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$8,460

family income
under $30k

$12,600

$30–48k

$17,534

$48–75k

$27,827

$75–110k

$52,593

over $110k

Average net price

$31,9442023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Carnegie Mellon University has wandered from 2008 to 2023 — up to $37,846 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at $31,944.

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$29,672
2009	$29,663
2010	$32,052
2011	$31,969
2012	$33,386
2013	$31,634
2014	$34,857
2015	$36,613
2016	$31,102
2017	$32,674
2018	$34,508
2019	$36,775
2020	$37,846
2021	$34,550
2022	$31,671
2023	$31,944

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$83,6542024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Carnegie Mellon University rose from $52,150 (2009) to $83,654 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$52,150
2010	$53,660
2011	$55,286
2012	$57,520
2013	$59,710
2014	$61,990
2015	$63,804
2016	$65,877
2017	$67,980
2018	$70,060
2019	$72,265
2020	$74,489
2021	$76,870
2022	$77,465
2023	$80,514
2024	$83,654

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$24,792
2001	$25,872
2002	$27,116
2003	$29,410
2004	$31,036
2005	$32,044
2006	$34,578
2007	$37,354
2008	$39,564
2013	$47,642
2014	$49,022
2015	$50,665
2016	$52,310
2017	$53,910
2018	$55,465
2019	$57,119
2020	$58,810
2021	$58,924
2022	$61,344
2023	$63,829

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Carnegie Mellon University reports published tuition of $66,246 in this record. Carnegie Mellon University's $66,246 tuition excludes other attendance costs; aid can reduce the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Carnegie Mellon University reports 7,304 undergraduate students. Enrollment is a headcount, not a measure of teaching access.

94.1% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Carnegie Mellon University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

94.1%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Carnegie Mellon University rose from 71.8% (entered 1991) to 94.1% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	71.8%
1992 cohort	75.2%
1993 cohort	77.7%
1994 cohort	76.5%
1995 cohort	78.7%
1996 cohort	82.3%
1997 cohort	81.4%
1998 cohort	84.7%
1999 cohort	85.6%
2000 cohort	86.4%
2001 cohort	86.8%
2002 cohort	87.3%
2003 cohort	84.5%
2004 cohort	85.7%
2005 cohort	87%
2006 cohort	86.8%
2007 cohort	88%
2008 cohort	88.3%
2009 cohort	87.8%
2010 cohort	89.8%
2011 cohort	88.8%
2012 cohort	88.8%
2013 cohort	90.5%
2014 cohort	93.5%
2015 cohort	92.8%
2016 cohort	91.5%
2017 cohort	92.5%
2018 cohort	94.1%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$14,500	$16,125
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$17,125	$15,074
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$17,125	$6,125
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$17,125	$9,125
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$17,125	$10,125
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$17,125	$7,125
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$17,125	$7,125
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$17,125	$7,469
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$19,125	$7,275
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$20,250	$7,000
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$22,988	$7,450
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$25,879	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$26,867	$12,250
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$26,200	$15,542
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$26,462	$14,000
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$23,250	$14,000
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$23,250	$14,000
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$22,014	$12,000
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$21,750	$15,097

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$105,360

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$105,524

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$114,862

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Carnegie Mellon University admitted 3,959 of 33,941 applicants in Fall 2024. The 11.7% rate describes that application pool.

11.7%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $63,829 tuition · 2023–24 7,304 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1500–15701600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Carnegie Mellon University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Carnegie Mellon University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 730–770 and Math was 770–800 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1500–1570 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	730	750	770
SAT Math	770	790	800
ACT Composite	34	35	35

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Carnegie Mellon University received 33,941 applications and admitted 3,959 (11.7%), with 1,808 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

11.7%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Carnegie Mellon University's admission rate fell from 31.2% to 11.7%. The rate alone cannot explain the change. This describes Fall 2001 to Fall 2024.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	31.2%
Fall 2002	38.1%
Fall 2003	38.4%
Fall 2004	41.6%
Fall 2005	38.9%
Fall 2006	33.7%
Fall 2007	28%
Fall 2008	28.9%
Fall 2009	36.3%
Fall 2010	33.3%
Fall 2011	30.4%
Fall 2012	27.8%
Fall 2013	25.5%
Fall 2014	24.6%
Fall 2015	23.7%
Fall 2016	21.7%
Fall 2017	22.2%
Fall 2018	17.1%
Fall 2019	15.4%
Fall 2020	17.3%
Fall 2021	13.5%
Fall 2022	11.3%
Fall 2023	11.4%
Fall 2024	11.7%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1500–1570Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1260	1460
Fall 2002	1270	1470
Fall 2003	1280	1480
Fall 2004	1290	1480
Fall 2005	1290	1470
Fall 2006	1300	1490
Fall 2007	1290	1490
Fall 2008	1290	1500
Fall 2009	1290	1500
Fall 2010	1300	1500
Fall 2011	1310	1510
Fall 2012	1320	1520
Fall 2013	1340	1530
Fall 2014	1340	1540
Fall 2015	1360	1540
Fall 2016	1380	1550
Fall 2017	1430	1560
Fall 2018	1450	1550
Fall 2019	1460	1560
Fall 2020	1460	1560
Fall 2021	1480	1560
Fall 2022	1490	1570
Fall 2023	1500	1570
Fall 2024	1500	1570

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

34–35Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2002	27	32
Fall 2003	27	31
Fall 2004	27	32
Fall 2005	28	32
Fall 2006	28	32
Fall 2007	28	32
Fall 2008	29	33
Fall 2009	29	33
Fall 2010	29	33
Fall 2011	29	33
Fall 2012	29	33
Fall 2013	30	34
Fall 2014	30	34
Fall 2015	31	34
Fall 2016	31	34
Fall 2017	32	35
Fall 2018	33	35
Fall 2019	33	35
Fall 2020	33	35
Fall 2021	33	35
Fall 2022	34	35
Fall 2023	34	35
Fall 2024	34	35

IPEDS Fall 2002–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

7,304Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Carnegie Mellon University rose from 5,347 (Fall 2002) to 7,304 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	5,347
Fall 2003	5,337
Fall 2004	5,389
Fall 2005	5,494
Fall 2006	5,459
Fall 2007	5,591
Fall 2008	5,703
Fall 2009	5,705
Fall 2010	5,742
Fall 2011	5,848
Fall 2012	5,848
Fall 2013	5,834
Fall 2014	5,819
Fall 2015	5,964
Fall 2016	6,188
Fall 2017	6,434
Fall 2018	6,483
Fall 2019	6,535
Fall 2020	6,539
Fall 2021	6,880
Fall 2022	7,005
Fall 2023	7,187
Fall 2024	7,304

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

98%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Carnegie Mellon University has held near 98% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	94%
Fall 2003 cohort	92%
Fall 2004 cohort	94%
Fall 2005 cohort	94%
Fall 2006 cohort	96%
Fall 2007 cohort	96%
Fall 2008 cohort	95%
Fall 2009 cohort	96%
Fall 2010 cohort	96%
Fall 2011 cohort	95%
Fall 2012 cohort	94%
Fall 2013 cohort	96%
Fall 2014 cohort	98%
Fall 2015 cohort	96%
Fall 2016 cohort	96%
Fall 2017 cohort	97%
Fall 2018 cohort	97%
Fall 2019 cohort	96%
Fall 2020 cohort	97%
Fall 2021 cohort	97%
Fall 2022 cohort	97%
Fall 2023 cohort	98%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Carnegie Mellon University

Faculty pay at Carnegie Mellon University averages $167,664 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Carnegie Mellon University as a primarily residential campus of 7,304 undergraduates — and 98% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Carnegie Mellon University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1500–1570 — their midpoint is above the PA four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Carnegie Mellon University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Carnegie Mellon University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Carnegie Mellon University11.7%

Pennsylvania median81.7%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Carnegie Mellon University$66,246

Pennsylvania median$33,730

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Carnegie Mellon University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Carnegie Mellon University$114,862

Pennsylvania median$62,101

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania and national reference values
Metric & basis	Carnegie Mellon University	Pennsylvania median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	11.7%	81.7%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$66,246	$33,730	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$114,862	$62,101	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Carnegie Mellon University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Carnegie Mellon University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 22 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Computer Science	$268,121
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	$250,168
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$187,437
Cognitive Science	$162,106
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$160,783
Statistics	$156,743
Systems Science and Theory	$146,929
Mathematics and Statistics, Other	$145,741
Economics	$144,886
Design and Applied Arts	$138,588
Materials Sciences	$119,715
Chemical Engineering	$110,378
Engineering, General	$110,208
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	$109,648
Mechanical Engineering	$105,623
Civil Engineering	$105,199
Psychology, General	$82,433
Architecture	$73,439
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	$71,205
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$62,027
Fine and Studio Arts	$53,726
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$40,073

These 22 fields listed for Carnegie Mellon University measure earnings after completion. The $114,862 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 69 additional Carnegie Mellon University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Carnegie Mellon University report?

Carnegie Mellon University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1500–1570 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Carnegie Mellon University's acceptance rate?

11.7% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 3,959 admitted from 33,941 applicants.

How much does Carnegie Mellon University cost?

At Carnegie Mellon University, tuition is $66,246. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Carnegie Mellon University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $114,862. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Pennsylvania

Haverford College — 12.4% admitted
University of Pennsylvania — 5.4% admitted
Swarthmore College — 7.5% admitted
Carlow University — 86.9% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.