Carnegie Mellon vs Harvard - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Harvard admits 3.6% of applicants, while Carnegie Mellon admits 11.7%.
The more international environment is at Carnegie Mellon (23.3% international students) than Harvard (15.7%).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Harvard reports aid for international students ($81,046 on average), Carnegie Mellon does not.
Ten years on, graduates of Carnegie Mellon earn noticeably more: $115K against $102K.
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
Harvard is the more selective of the two (3.65% vs 11.66% acceptance). Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #1). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $102K). Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,796 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: higher graduate earnings.
Choose Harvard 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
Harvard is more selective (3.65% vs 11.66% acceptance); Harvard has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1540).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $102K); Harvard has a higher 6-year graduation rate (97.6% vs 94.1%).
Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,796 vs $68,776); Harvard offers a larger average aid package ($74,387 vs $60,909).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Carnegie Mellon | Harvard |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #1 |
| Rank · THE | #24 | #3 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.66% | 3.65% |
| Yield rate | 45.7% | 83.6% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1553 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.89 | 4.21 |
| Number of applications | 33,941 | 54,008 |
| International students | 23.3% | 15.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $115K | $102K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $65K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $200K |
| Graduation rate | 94.1% | 97.6% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 98% |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $68,776 | $64,796 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,909 | $74,387 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $31,298 | $22,262 |
| Application fee | $75 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 16,676 | 21,189 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Carnegie Mellon or Harvard?
It's harder to get into Harvard. Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66% of applicants, while Harvard accepts 3.65%.
Do Carnegie Mellon or Harvard graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $102K.
How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon vs Harvard?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon and $64,796 per year at Harvard.
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon or Harvard?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Carnegie Mellon and 1553 at Harvard; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Carnegie Mellon or Harvard?
Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon vs #1 for Harvard.
Which university offers more financial aid - Carnegie Mellon or Harvard?
The average aid package is $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon and $74,387 at Harvard.
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