Carnegie Mellon vs Princeton - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Princeton admits 4.4% of applicants, while Carnegie Mellon admits 11.7%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 23.3% (Carnegie Mellon) against 13.1% (Princeton).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Princeton reports aid for international students ($86,736 on average), Carnegie Mellon does not.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Princeton starts at $95,624 against $88,670 and ends at $16,304 against $27,761 (Carnegie Mellon).
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
Princeton is the more selective of the two (4.42% vs 11.66% acceptance). Princeton ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #7). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $110K). Princeton has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,454 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 graduate earnings.
Choose Princeton 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
Princeton is more selective (4.42% vs 11.66% acceptance); Carnegie Mellon has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1530).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $110K); Princeton has a higher 6-year graduation rate (97.6% vs 94.1%).
Princeton has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,454 vs $68,776); Princeton offers a larger average aid package ($79,320 vs $60,909).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Carnegie Mellon | Princeton |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #7 |
| Rank · THE | #24 | #4 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.66% | 4.42% |
| Yield rate | 45.7% | 75.4% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1530 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.89 | 3.96 |
| Number of applications | 33,941 | 42,303 |
| International students | 23.3% | 13.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $115K | $110K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $197K |
| Graduation rate | 94.1% | 97.6% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 99% |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $10,320 |
| Tuition · year | $68,776 | $68,454 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,909 | $79,320 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $31,298 | $21,251 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 16,676 | 9,281 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Carnegie Mellon or Princeton?
It's harder to get into Princeton. Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66% of applicants, while Princeton accepts 4.42%.
Do Carnegie Mellon or Princeton graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $110K.
How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon vs Princeton?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon and $68,454 per year at Princeton.
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon or Princeton?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Carnegie Mellon and 1530 at Princeton; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Carnegie Mellon or Princeton?
Princeton ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon vs #7 for Princeton.
Which university offers more financial aid - Carnegie Mellon or Princeton?
The average aid package is $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon and $79,320 at Princeton.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern
North Carolina