Iowa State vs Carnegie Mellon - 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, Iowa State admits 88.7%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 23.3% (Carnegie Mellon) against 3.7% (Iowa State).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Iowa State reports aid for international students ($12,582 on average), Carnegie Mellon does not.
The tuition gap is $39,895 a year: $28,881 (Iowa State) against $68,776.
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 88.66% acceptance). Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #101-150). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $63K). Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 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 Iowa State 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 88.66% acceptance); Carnegie Mellon has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1250).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $63K); Carnegie Mellon has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.1% vs 75.3%).
Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $68,776); Carnegie Mellon offers a larger average aid package ($60,909 vs $15,665).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Iowa State | Carnegie Mellon |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #101-150 |
| Rank · THE | - | #24 |
| Acceptance rate | 88.66% | 11.66% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 45.7% |
| Median SAT | 1250 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.75 | 3.89 |
| Number of applications | 23,095 | 33,941 |
| International students | 3.7% | 23.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $63K | $115K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $44K | $73K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $90K | $183K |
| Graduation rate | 75.3% | 94.1% |
| Retention rate | 87.6% | 98% |
| Median debt | $22,869 | $21,750 |
| Tuition · year | $28,881 | $68,776 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,665 | $60,909 |
| % of need met | 78% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,475 | $31,298 |
| Application fee | $40 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 30,432 | 16,676 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Iowa State or Carnegie Mellon?
It's harder to get into Carnegie Mellon. Iowa State accepts 88.66% of applicants, while Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66%.
Do Iowa State or Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $63K.
How much is tuition at Iowa State vs Carnegie Mellon?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,881 per year at Iowa State and $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon.
What SAT score do you need for Iowa State or Carnegie Mellon?
The median admitted SAT score is 1250 at Iowa State and 1540 at Carnegie Mellon; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Iowa State or Carnegie Mellon?
Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Iowa State vs #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon.
Which university offers more financial aid - Iowa State or Carnegie Mellon?
The average aid package is $15,665 at Iowa State and $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon.
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