Carnegie Mellon vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts most of the applications it receives (63.5%), while Carnegie Mellon turns away the overwhelming majority (11.7%).
The larger international cohort belongs to Carnegie Mellon: 23.3% of students against 2.2% (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).
Carnegie Mellon reports no financial aid for international students, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awards them $48,307 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Carnegie Mellon: $115K against $102K.
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 63.5% acceptance). Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #501-600). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $102K). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 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: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for: lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Carnegie Mellon is more selective (11.66% vs 63.5% acceptance); Carnegie Mellon has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1456).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $102K); Carnegie Mellon has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.1% vs 83.6%).
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $68,776); Carnegie Mellon offers a larger average aid package ($60,909 vs $50,402).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Carnegie Mellon | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | #24 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 11.66% | 63.5% |
| Yield rate | 45.7% | 14.4% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1456 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.89 | 3.93 |
| Number of applications | 33,941 | 14,356 |
| International students | 23.3% | 2.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $115K | $102K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $71K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $137K |
| Graduation rate | 94.1% | 83.6% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 91% |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $23,750 |
| Tuition · year | $68,776 | $67,976 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,909 | $50,402 |
| % of need met | 100% | 66.2% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $31,298 | $39,539 |
| Application fee | $75 | $70 |
| Enrollment | 16,676 | 7,042 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Carnegie Mellon or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
It's harder to get into Carnegie Mellon. Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66% of applicants, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5%.
Do Carnegie Mellon or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $102K.
How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon and $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Carnegie Mellon and 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Carnegie Mellon or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon vs #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Which university offers more financial aid - Carnegie Mellon or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
The average aid package is $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon and $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
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