Carnegie Mellon vs Wyoming - 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, Wyoming admits 96.9%.
The more international environment is at Carnegie Mellon (23.3% international students) than Wyoming (1.8%).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Wyoming reports aid for international students ($10,769 on average), Carnegie Mellon does not.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Carnegie Mellon starts at $88,670 against $43,975 and ends at $27,761 against $31,846 (Wyoming).
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 96.9% acceptance). Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #701-800). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $57K). Wyoming has lower sticker-price tuition ($25,015 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 Wyoming 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 96.9% acceptance); Carnegie Mellon has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1140).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $57K); Carnegie Mellon has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.1% vs 58.8%).
Wyoming has lower sticker-price tuition ($25,015 vs $68,776); Carnegie Mellon offers a larger average aid package ($60,909 vs $12,129).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Carnegie Mellon | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #701-800 |
| Rank · THE | #24 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 11.66% | 96.9% |
| Yield rate | 45.7% | 23.8% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1140 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.89 | 3.55 |
| Number of applications | 33,941 | 6,217 |
| International students | 23.3% | 1.8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $115K | $57K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $37K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $81K |
| Graduation rate | 94.1% | 58.8% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 79% |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $18,000 |
| Tuition · year | $68,776 | $25,015 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,909 | $12,129 |
| % of need met | 100% | 57.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $31,298 | $24,921 |
| Application fee | $75 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 16,676 | 10,813 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Carnegie Mellon or Wyoming?
It's harder to get into Carnegie Mellon. Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66% of applicants, while Wyoming accepts 96.9%.
Do Carnegie Mellon or Wyoming graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $57K.
How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon vs Wyoming?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon and $25,015 per year at Wyoming.
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon or Wyoming?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Carnegie Mellon and 1140 at Wyoming; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Carnegie Mellon or Wyoming?
Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon vs #701-800 for Wyoming.
Which university offers more financial aid - Carnegie Mellon or Wyoming?
The average aid package is $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon and $12,129 at Wyoming.
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