Carnegie Mellon vs North Carolina - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Carnegie Mellon: 11.7% against 15.3% (North Carolina).
The share of international students differs sharply: 23.3% (Carnegie Mellon) against 6.4% (North Carolina).
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Carnegie Mellon lists $88,670 against $60,888 (North Carolina), but after average aid what remains is $27,761 against $40,183.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Carnegie Mellon: $115K against $72K.
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 15.34% acceptance). North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #35). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $72K). North Carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($45,228 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 selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose North Carolina for: a higher world ranking, lower tuition, 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 15.34% acceptance); Carnegie Mellon has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1470).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $72K); Carnegie Mellon has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.1% vs 91.2%).
North Carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($45,228 vs $68,776); Carnegie Mellon offers a larger average aid package ($60,909 vs $20,705).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Carnegie Mellon | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #35 |
| Rank · THE | #24 | #70 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.66% | 15.34% |
| Yield rate | 45.7% | 45.5% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.89 | 4.49 |
| Number of applications | 33,941 | 66,535 |
| International students | 23.3% | 6.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $115K | $72K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $48K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $112K |
| Graduation rate | 94.1% | 91.2% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 96.6% |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $68,776 | $45,228 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,909 | $20,705 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $31,298 | $20,382 |
| Application fee | $75 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 16,676 | 32,680 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Carnegie Mellon or North Carolina?
It's harder to get into Carnegie Mellon. Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66% of applicants, while North Carolina accepts 15.34%.
Do Carnegie Mellon or North Carolina graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $72K.
How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon vs North Carolina?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon and $45,228 per year at North Carolina.
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon or North Carolina?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Carnegie Mellon and 1470 at North Carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Carnegie Mellon or North Carolina?
North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon vs #35 for North Carolina.
Which university offers more financial aid - Carnegie Mellon or North Carolina?
The average aid package is $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon and $20,705 at North Carolina.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern