Carnegie Mellon vs Brandeis - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Carnegie Mellon admits 11.7% of applicants, while Brandeis admits 40.5%.
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Brandeis reports aid for international students ($56,730 on average), Carnegie Mellon does not.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Carnegie Mellon: $115K against $77K.
The higher mid-range SAT belongs to Carnegie Mellon: 1540 against 1460, a gap of 80 points.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
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 40.47% acceptance). Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #301-400). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $77K). Carnegie Mellon has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,776 vs $70,957 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 Brandeis for: 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 40.47% acceptance); Carnegie Mellon has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1460).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $77K); Carnegie Mellon has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.1% vs 86%).
Carnegie Mellon has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,776 vs $70,957); Carnegie Mellon offers a larger average aid package ($60,909 vs $57,507).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Carnegie Mellon | Brandeis |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | #24 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 11.66% | 40.47% |
| Yield rate | 45.7% | 17.5% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1460 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.89 | 3.90 |
| Number of applications | 33,941 | 10,462 |
| International students | 23.3% | 19.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $115K | $77K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $52K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 94.1% | 86% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 87% |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $25,648 |
| Tuition · year | $68,776 | $70,957 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,909 | $57,507 |
| % of need met | 100% | 94.5% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $31,298 | $27,004 |
| Application fee | $75 | $80 |
| Enrollment | 16,676 | 5,205 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Carnegie Mellon or Brandeis?
It's harder to get into Carnegie Mellon. Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66% of applicants, while Brandeis accepts 40.47%.
Do Carnegie Mellon or Brandeis graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $77K.
How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon vs Brandeis?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon and $70,957 per year at Brandeis.
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon or Brandeis?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Carnegie Mellon and 1460 at Brandeis; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Carnegie Mellon or Brandeis?
Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon vs #301-400 for Brandeis.
Which university offers more financial aid - Carnegie Mellon or Brandeis?
The average aid package is $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon and $57,507 at Brandeis.
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