West Virginia vs Carnegie Mellon - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
West Virginia accepts most of the applications it receives (89%), while Carnegie Mellon turns away the overwhelming majority (11.7%).
The share of international students differs sharply: 23.3% (Carnegie Mellon) against 1.7% (West Virginia).
Carnegie Mellon reports no financial aid for international students, while West Virginia awards them $21,636 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
The cheaper tuition belongs to West Virginia: $28,608 against $68,776, or $40,168 less a year.
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
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 89% 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 $56K). West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 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 West Virginia for: lower tuition.
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 89% acceptance); Carnegie Mellon has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1110).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $56K); Carnegie Mellon has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.1% vs 64.7%).
West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $68,776); Carnegie Mellon offers a larger average aid package ($60,909 vs $16,730).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | West Virginia | Carnegie Mellon |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #101-150 |
| Rank · THE | - | #24 |
| Acceptance rate | 89% | 11.66% |
| Yield rate | 26.5% | 45.7% |
| Median SAT | 1110 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.70 | 3.89 |
| Number of applications | 20,150 | 33,941 |
| International students | 1.7% | 23.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $56K | $115K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $36K | $73K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $84K | $183K |
| Graduation rate | 64.7% | 94.1% |
| Retention rate | 83.4% | 98% |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $21,750 |
| Tuition · year | $28,608 | $68,776 |
| Avg. aid package | $16,730 | $60,909 |
| % of need met | 63% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $36,010 | $31,298 |
| Application fee | $65 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 23,643 | 16,676 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into West Virginia or Carnegie Mellon?
It's harder to get into Carnegie Mellon. West Virginia accepts 89% of applicants, while Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66%.
Do West Virginia or Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $56K.
How much is tuition at West Virginia vs Carnegie Mellon?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,608 per year at West Virginia and $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon.
What SAT score do you need for West Virginia or Carnegie Mellon?
The median admitted SAT score is 1110 at West Virginia and 1540 at Carnegie Mellon; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - West Virginia or Carnegie Mellon?
Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for West Virginia vs #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon.
Which university offers more financial aid - West Virginia or Carnegie Mellon?
The average aid package is $16,730 at West Virginia and $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon.
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