Carnegie Mellon vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Massachusetts Institute of Technology admits 4.5%, Carnegie Mellon admits 11.7%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Carnegie Mellon: 23.3% of students against 11.7% (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
Carnegie Mellon reports no financial aid for international students, while Massachusetts Institute of Technology awards them $77,266 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
You do not have to choose between price and outcome here: Massachusetts Institute of Technology costs $64,730 against $68,776, and its graduates earn $143K against $115K (Carnegie Mellon).
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
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
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the more selective of the two (4.55% vs 11.66% acceptance). Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #3). Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $115K). Massachusetts Institute of Technology has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,730 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is more selective (4.55% vs 11.66% acceptance); Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a higher median SAT (1550 vs 1540).
Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $115K); Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.4% vs 94.1%).
Massachusetts Institute of Technology has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,730 vs $68,776); Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a larger average aid package ($68,358 vs $60,909).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Carnegie Mellon | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #3 |
| Rank · THE | #24 | #2 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.66% | 4.55% |
| Yield rate | 45.7% | 86.1% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1550 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.89 | - |
| Number of applications | 33,941 | 28,232 |
| International students | 23.3% | 11.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $115K | $143K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $88K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $243K |
| Graduation rate | 94.1% | 96.4% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 99% |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $14,768 |
| Tuition · year | $68,776 | $64,730 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,909 | $68,358 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $31,298 | $29,488 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 16,676 | 11,886 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Carnegie Mellon or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
It's harder to get into Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66% of applicants, while Massachusetts Institute of Technology accepts 4.55%.
Do Carnegie Mellon or Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn more?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $143K vs $115K.
How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon and $64,730 per year at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Carnegie Mellon and 1550 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Carnegie Mellon or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon vs #3 for Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Which university offers more financial aid - Carnegie Mellon or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
The average aid package is $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon and $68,358 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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