Carnegie Mellon vs Binghamton - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Carnegie Mellon: 11.7% against 38.6% (Binghamton).
The share of international students differs sharply: 23.3% (Carnegie Mellon) against 4% (Binghamton).
Carnegie Mellon reports no financial aid for international students, while Binghamton awards them $8,377 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
The cheaper tuition belongs to Binghamton: $30,447 against $68,776, or $38,329 less a year.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Carnegie Mellon is the more selective of the two (11.66% vs 38.61% acceptance). Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #501-600). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $81K). Binghamton has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,447 vs $68,776 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Carnegie Mellon for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Binghamton for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Carnegie Mellon is more selective (11.66% vs 38.61% acceptance); Carnegie Mellon has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1420).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $81K); Carnegie Mellon has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.1% vs 81.6%).
Binghamton has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,447 vs $68,776); Carnegie Mellon offers a larger average aid package ($60,909 vs $19,288).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Carnegie Mellon | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | #24 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 11.66% | 38.61% |
| Yield rate | 45.7% | 15.9% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1420 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.89 | 3.88 |
| Number of applications | 33,941 | 53,007 |
| International students | 23.3% | 4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $115K | $81K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $53K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $114K |
| Graduation rate | 94.1% | 81.6% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 89.5% |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $18,500 |
| Tuition · year | $68,776 | $30,447 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,909 | $19,288 |
| % of need met | 100% | 74% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $31,298 | $27,208 |
| Application fee | $75 | $50 |
| Enrollment | 16,676 | 18,815 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Carnegie Mellon or Binghamton?
It's harder to get into Carnegie Mellon. Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66% of applicants, while Binghamton accepts 38.61%.
Do Carnegie Mellon or Binghamton graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $81K.
How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon vs Binghamton?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon and $30,447 per year at Binghamton.
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon or Binghamton?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Carnegie Mellon and 1420 at Binghamton; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Carnegie Mellon or Binghamton?
Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon vs #501-600 for Binghamton.
Which university offers more financial aid - Carnegie Mellon or Binghamton?
The average aid package is $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon and $19,288 at Binghamton.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern