Carnegie Mellon vs Cornell - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Cornell: 8.4% against 11.7% (Carnegie Mellon).
The larger international cohort belongs to Carnegie Mellon: 23.3% of students against 10.3% (Cornell).
Carnegie Mellon reports no financial aid for international students, while Cornell awards them $84,351 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Carnegie Mellon: $115K against $104K.
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
Cornell is the more selective of the two (8.41% vs 11.66% acceptance). Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #12). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $104K). Carnegie Mellon has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,776 vs $72,270 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: higher graduate earnings, lower tuition.
Choose Cornell for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Cornell is more selective (8.41% vs 11.66% acceptance).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $104K); Cornell has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.4% vs 94.1%).
Carnegie Mellon has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,776 vs $72,270); Cornell offers a larger average aid package ($64,225 vs $60,909).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Carnegie Mellon | Cornell |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #12 |
| Rank · THE | #24 | #20 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.66% | 8.41% |
| Yield rate | 45.7% | 63.9% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.89 | - |
| Number of applications | 33,941 | 65,612 |
| International students | 23.3% | 10.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $115K | $104K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $67K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $166K |
| Graduation rate | 94.1% | 95.4% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 98.1% |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $68,776 | $72,270 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,909 | $64,225 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $31,298 | $29,441 |
| Application fee | $75 | $80 |
| Enrollment | 16,676 | 26,793 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Carnegie Mellon or Cornell?
It's harder to get into Cornell. Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66% of applicants, while Cornell accepts 8.41%.
Do Carnegie Mellon or Cornell graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $104K.
How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon vs Cornell?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon and $72,270 per year at Cornell.
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon or Cornell?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Carnegie Mellon and 1540 at Cornell; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Carnegie Mellon or Cornell?
Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon vs #12 for Cornell.
Which university offers more financial aid - Carnegie Mellon or Cornell?
The average aid package is $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon and $64,225 at Cornell.
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