Carnegie Mellon vs Texas Rio Grande Valley - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Carnegie Mellon admits 11.7% of applications, Texas Rio Grande Valley admits 94.2%.
The more international environment is at Carnegie Mellon (23.3% international students) than Texas Rio Grande Valley (1.7%).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Texas Rio Grande Valley reports aid for international students ($6,258 on average), Carnegie Mellon does not.
The tuition gap is $46,489 a year: $22,287 (Texas Rio Grande Valley) against $68,776.
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
Carnegie Mellon is the more selective of the two (11.66% vs 94.2% acceptance). Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #801-900). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $50K). Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 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 Texas Rio Grande Valley for: 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 94.2% acceptance); Carnegie Mellon has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 985).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $50K); Carnegie Mellon has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.1% vs 50.9%).
Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 vs $68,776); Carnegie Mellon offers a larger average aid package ($60,909 vs $11,242).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Carnegie Mellon | Texas Rio Grande Valley |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #801-900 |
| Rank · THE | #24 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 11.66% | 94.2% |
| Yield rate | 45.7% | 55.4% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 985 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.89 | - |
| Number of applications | 33,941 | 12,137 |
| International students | 23.3% | 1.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $115K | $50K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $29K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $67K |
| Graduation rate | 94.1% | 50.9% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 78.9% |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $12,950 |
| Tuition · year | $68,776 | $22,287 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,909 | $11,242 |
| % of need met | 100% | 72% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $31,298 | $14,589 |
| Application fee | $75 | - |
| Enrollment | 16,676 | 31,864 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Carnegie Mellon or Texas Rio Grande Valley?
It's harder to get into Carnegie Mellon. Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66% of applicants, while Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts 94.2%.
Do Carnegie Mellon or Texas Rio Grande Valley graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $50K.
How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon vs Texas Rio Grande Valley?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon and $22,287 per year at Texas Rio Grande Valley.
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon or Texas Rio Grande Valley?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Carnegie Mellon and 985 at Texas Rio Grande Valley; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Carnegie Mellon or Texas Rio Grande Valley?
Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon vs #801-900 for Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Which university offers more financial aid - Carnegie Mellon or Texas Rio Grande Valley?
The average aid package is $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon and $11,242 at Texas Rio Grande Valley.
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