PITTSBURGH, PA

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Carnegie Mellon vs Maryland (UMBC) - US university comparison

CARNEGIE MELLON

Pittsburgh, PA

World rank · ARWU#101-150

Acceptance11.66%

Median SAT1540

Graduation rate94.1%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$115K

MARYLAND (UMBC)

Baltimore, Maryland

World rank · ARWU#601-700

Acceptance72.43%

Median SAT1323

Graduation rate70%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$70K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Carnegie Mellon University University of Maryland, Baltimore County

#101-150 World rank · ARWU #601-700

#24 Rank · THE -

11.66% Acceptance rate 72.43%

1540 Median SAT 1323

94.1% Graduation rate 70%

16,676 Enrollment 13,906

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.66% Acceptance rate 72.43%

45.7% Yield rate 21.6%

1540 Median SAT 1323

3.89 Avg. GPA 4.13

33,941 Number of applications 14,325

23.3% Int'l students 4.8%

At a glance

Carnegie Mellon leads in 8 of 12 measured metrics

Acceptance11.66% vs 72.43%

Aid$60,909 vs $14,712

% of need100% vs 47%

The verdict, from the data

These are two different admissions games: Carnegie Mellon admits 11.7% of applications, Maryland (UMBC) admits 72.4%.

The share of international students differs sharply: 23.3% (Carnegie Mellon) against 4.8% (Maryland (UMBC)).

If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Maryland (UMBC) reports aid for international students ($13,080 on average), Carnegie Mellon does not.

The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Carnegie Mellon starts at $88,670 against $54,581 and ends at $27,761 against $39,869 (Maryland (UMBC)).

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 72.43% acceptance). Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #601-700). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $70K). Maryland (UMBC) has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,735 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 Maryland (UMBC) for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Carnegie Mellon is more selective (11.66% vs 72.43% acceptance); Carnegie Mellon has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1323).

Graduate outcomes

Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $70K); Carnegie Mellon has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.1% vs 70%).

Cost and aid

Maryland (UMBC) has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,735 vs $68,776); Carnegie Mellon offers a larger average aid package ($60,909 vs $14,712).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

Each dot is a comparable US university; Carnegie Mellon and Maryland (UMBC) highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Carnegie Mellon	Maryland (UMBC)
World rank · ARWU	#101-150	#601-700
Rank · THE	#24	-
Acceptance rate	11.66%	72.43%
Yield rate	45.7%	21.6%
Median SAT	1540	1323
Avg. GPA	3.89	4.13
Number of applications	33,941	14,325
International students	23.3%	4.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$115K	$70K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$73K	$45K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$183K	$101K
Graduation rate	94.1%	70%
Retention rate	98%	85%
Median debt	$21,750	$19,500
Tuition · year	$68,776	$32,735
Avg. aid package	$60,909	$14,712
% of need met	100%	47%
Avg. graduate debt	$31,298	$22,450
Application fee	$75	$75
Enrollment	16,676	13,906

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Carnegie Mellon or Maryland (UMBC)?

It's harder to get into Carnegie Mellon. Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66% of applicants, while Maryland (UMBC) accepts 72.43%.

Do Carnegie Mellon or Maryland (UMBC) graduates earn more?

Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $70K.

How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon vs Maryland (UMBC)?

Sticker-price tuition is $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon and $32,735 per year at Maryland (UMBC).

What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon or Maryland (UMBC)?

The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Carnegie Mellon and 1323 at Maryland (UMBC); aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Carnegie Mellon or Maryland (UMBC)?

Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon vs #601-700 for Maryland (UMBC).

Which university offers more financial aid - Carnegie Mellon or Maryland (UMBC)?

The average aid package is $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon and $14,712 at Maryland (UMBC).

Compare Carnegie Mellon with

Harvard

Stanford

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Washington University

Northwestern

Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).

All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) - admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "-" = not yet in canonical.