Carnegie Mellon vs Northwestern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Northwestern admits 7.7% of applicants, while Carnegie Mellon admits 11.7%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Carnegie Mellon: 23.3% of students against 11.8% (Northwestern).
Carnegie Mellon reports no financial aid for international students, while Northwestern awards them $74,103 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Carnegie Mellon: $115K against $89K.
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
Northwestern is the more selective of the two (7.69% vs 11.66% acceptance). Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #33). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $89K). Carnegie Mellon has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,776 vs $70,589 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, lower graduate debt.
Choose Northwestern 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
Northwestern is more selective (7.69% vs 11.66% acceptance).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $89K); Northwestern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.1% vs 94.1%).
Carnegie Mellon has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,776 vs $70,589); Northwestern offers a larger average aid package ($68,110 vs $60,909).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Carnegie Mellon | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #33 |
| Rank · THE | #24 | #31 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.66% | 7.69% |
| Yield rate | 45.7% | 55.3% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.89 | - |
| Number of applications | 33,941 | 49,474 |
| International students | 23.3% | 11.8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $115K | $89K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $61K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $139K |
| Graduation rate | 94.1% | 95.1% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 98% |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $15,000 |
| Tuition · year | $68,776 | $70,589 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,909 | $68,110 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $31,298 | $32,540 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 16,676 | 23,431 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Carnegie Mellon or Northwestern?
It's harder to get into Northwestern. Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66% of applicants, while Northwestern accepts 7.69%.
Do Carnegie Mellon or Northwestern graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $89K.
How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon vs Northwestern?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon and $70,589 per year at Northwestern.
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon or Northwestern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Carnegie Mellon and 1540 at Northwestern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Carnegie Mellon or Northwestern?
Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon vs #33 for Northwestern.
Which university offers more financial aid - Carnegie Mellon or Northwestern?
The average aid package is $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon and $68,110 at Northwestern.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
North Carolina