Carnegie Mellon vs Penn - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Penn: 5.4% against 11.7% (Carnegie Mellon).
The share of international students differs sharply: 23.3% (Carnegie Mellon) against 13.3% (Penn).
Carnegie Mellon reports no financial aid for international students, while Penn awards them $75,356 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Penn lists $92,524 against $88,670 (Carnegie Mellon), but after average aid what remains is $21,553 against $27,761.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
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
Penn is the more selective of the two (5.4% vs 11.66% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #14). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $111K). Carnegie Mellon has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,776 vs $71,236 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 Penn 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
Penn is more selective (5.4% vs 11.66% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1540).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $111K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 94.1%).
Carnegie Mellon has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,776 vs $71,236); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $60,909).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Carnegie Mellon | Penn |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #14 |
| Rank · THE | #24 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 11.66% | 5.4% |
| Yield rate | 45.7% | 68% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1553 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.89 | 3.90 |
| Number of applications | 33,941 | 65,236 |
| International students | 23.3% | 13.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $115K | $111K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $70K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $183K |
| Graduation rate | 94.1% | 96.5% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 98.8% |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $15,715 |
| Tuition · year | $68,776 | $71,236 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,909 | $70,971 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $31,298 | $32,558 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 16,676 | 24,023 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Carnegie Mellon or Penn?
It's harder to get into Penn. Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66% of applicants, while Penn accepts 5.4%.
Do Carnegie Mellon or Penn graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $111K.
How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon vs Penn?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon and $71,236 per year at Penn.
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon or Penn?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Carnegie Mellon and 1553 at Penn; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Carnegie Mellon or Penn?
Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon vs #14 for Penn.
Which university offers more financial aid - Carnegie Mellon or Penn?
The average aid package is $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon and $70,971 at Penn.
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