Central Florida vs Carnegie Mellon - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Carnegie Mellon admits 11.7%, Central Florida admits 44.7%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Carnegie Mellon: 23.3% of students against 3.3% (Central Florida).
Carnegie Mellon reports no financial aid for international students, while Central Florida awards them $928 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
The tuition gap is $44,700 a year: $24,076 (Central Florida) 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 44.71% acceptance). Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#401-500 vs #101-150). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $58K). Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 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 Central Florida for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Carnegie Mellon for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Carnegie Mellon is more selective (11.66% vs 44.71% acceptance); Carnegie Mellon has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1260).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $58K); Carnegie Mellon has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.1% vs 78%).
Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $68,776); Carnegie Mellon offers a larger average aid package ($60,909 vs $11,814).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Central Florida | Carnegie Mellon |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #401-500 | #101-150 |
| Rank · THE | - | #24 |
| Acceptance rate | 44.71% | 11.66% |
| Yield rate | 33.5% | 45.7% |
| Median SAT | 1260 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.16 | 3.89 |
| Number of applications | 55,135 | 33,941 |
| International students | 3.3% | 23.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $58K | $115K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $39K | $73K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $86K | $183K |
| Graduation rate | 78% | 94.1% |
| Retention rate | 92.3% | 98% |
| Median debt | $18,190 | $21,750 |
| Tuition · year | $24,076 | $68,776 |
| Avg. aid package | $11,814 | $60,909 |
| % of need met | 65% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $20,529 | $31,298 |
| Application fee | $30 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 69,338 | 16,676 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Central Florida or Carnegie Mellon?
It's harder to get into Carnegie Mellon. Central Florida accepts 44.71% of applicants, while Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66%.
Do Central Florida or Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $58K.
How much is tuition at Central Florida vs Carnegie Mellon?
Sticker-price tuition is $24,076 per year at Central Florida and $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon.
What SAT score do you need for Central Florida or Carnegie Mellon?
The median admitted SAT score is 1260 at Central Florida and 1540 at Carnegie Mellon; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Central Florida or Carnegie Mellon?
Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #401-500 for Central Florida vs #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon.
Which university offers more financial aid - Central Florida or Carnegie Mellon?
The average aid package is $11,814 at Central Florida and $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon.
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