Notre Dame vs Carnegie Mellon - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The share of international students differs sharply: 23.3% (Carnegie Mellon) against 7.5% (Notre Dame).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Notre Dame reports aid for international students ($62,803 on average), Carnegie Mellon does not.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Carnegie Mellon: $115K against $100K.
Candidates with higher SAT scores go to Carnegie Mellon: a midpoint of 1540 against 1510, a difference of 30 points.
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
Notre Dame is the more selective of the two (11.3% vs 11.66% acceptance). Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #101-150). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $100K). Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 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 Notre Dame for: higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.
Choose Carnegie Mellon for: a higher world ranking, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Notre Dame is more selective (11.3% vs 11.66% acceptance); Carnegie Mellon has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1510).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $100K); Notre Dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 94.1%).
Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $68,776); Notre Dame offers a larger average aid package ($67,855 vs $60,909).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Notre Dame | Carnegie Mellon |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #101-150 |
| Rank · THE | - | #24 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.3% | 11.66% |
| Yield rate | 61.7% | 45.7% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.89 |
| Number of applications | 29,942 | 33,941 |
| International students | 7.5% | 23.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $100K | $115K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $68K | $73K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $183K |
| Graduation rate | 95% | 94.1% |
| Retention rate | 99% | 98% |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $21,750 |
| Tuition · year | $67,607 | $68,776 |
| Avg. aid package | $67,855 | $60,909 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $30,400 | $31,298 |
| Application fee | $85 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 13,042 | 16,676 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Notre Dame or Carnegie Mellon?
It's harder to get into Notre Dame. Notre Dame accepts 11.3% of applicants, while Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66%.
Do Notre Dame or Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $100K.
How much is tuition at Notre Dame vs Carnegie Mellon?
Sticker-price tuition is $67,607 per year at Notre Dame and $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon.
What SAT score do you need for Notre Dame or Carnegie Mellon?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Notre Dame and 1540 at Carnegie Mellon; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Notre Dame or Carnegie Mellon?
Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Notre Dame vs #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon.
Which university offers more financial aid - Notre Dame or Carnegie Mellon?
The average aid package is $67,855 at Notre Dame and $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon.
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