Cornell vs Carnegie Mellon - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Cornell: 8.4% against 11.7% (Carnegie Mellon).
The larger international cohort belongs to Carnegie Mellon: 23.3% of students against 10.3% (Cornell).
Carnegie Mellon reports no financial aid for international students, while Cornell awards them $84,351 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 $104K.
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
Cornell is the more selective of the two (8.41% vs 11.66% acceptance). Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#12 vs #101-150). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $104K). Carnegie Mellon has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,776 vs $72,270 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 Cornell for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Carnegie Mellon for: higher graduate earnings, lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Cornell is more selective (8.41% vs 11.66% acceptance).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $104K); Cornell has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.4% vs 94.1%).
Carnegie Mellon has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,776 vs $72,270); Cornell offers a larger average aid package ($64,225 vs $60,909).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Cornell | Carnegie Mellon |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #12 | #101-150 |
| Rank · THE | #20 | #24 |
| Acceptance rate | 8.41% | 11.66% |
| Yield rate | 63.9% | 45.7% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.89 |
| Number of applications | 65,612 | 33,941 |
| International students | 10.3% | 23.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $104K | $115K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $67K | $73K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $166K | $183K |
| Graduation rate | 95.4% | 94.1% |
| Retention rate | 98.1% | 98% |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $21,750 |
| Tuition · year | $72,270 | $68,776 |
| Avg. aid package | $64,225 | $60,909 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,441 | $31,298 |
| Application fee | $80 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 26,793 | 16,676 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Cornell or Carnegie Mellon?
It's harder to get into Cornell. Cornell accepts 8.41% of applicants, while Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66%.
Do Cornell or Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $104K.
How much is tuition at Cornell vs Carnegie Mellon?
Sticker-price tuition is $72,270 per year at Cornell and $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon.
What SAT score do you need for Cornell or Carnegie Mellon?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Cornell and 1540 at Carnegie Mellon; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Cornell or Carnegie Mellon?
Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #12 for Cornell vs #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon.
Which university offers more financial aid - Cornell or Carnegie Mellon?
The average aid package is $64,225 at Cornell and $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon.
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