Aid signal
Strong aid for lower incomes
Reported net price for the $0–30k band runs below average.
Source: IPEDS 2024
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Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA
Carnegie Mellon University at a glance
Carnegie Mellon University is a private university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with 15,888 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 12% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published tuition is $66,246 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $31,944 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 94% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 34% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $21,750 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Computer Science, bachelor's ($268,121) and Electrical Engineering, bachelor's ($250,168) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$66,246
2024-25
Acceptance
12%
Fall 2024 applicants
Students
15,888
Fall 2024
Type
University
Setting
Urban
Cost & Financial Aid
In-State Tuition
$66,246
Out-of-State Tuition
$66,246
Avg On-Campus Living
$18,166
Avg Off-Campus Living
$16,356
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Sticker price: $84,412
Net price (after aid): $31,944
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
$0 – $30k: $9,097
$30k – $48k: $12,600
$48k – $75k: $14,468
$75k – $110k: $24,865
$110k+: $51,480 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
For families earning $110k+, the average net price here is above the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow federally from 1 July 2026, by up to $25,980. That part has to come from savings, income, work, or private loans.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Median earnings (10yr): $114,862
Median debt at graduation: $21,750
Est. monthly loan payment: $231
Earnings-to-debt ratio
Strong · 5.3×Graduates earn about 5.3× their median debt every year.
Financial access
Students on Pell Grants: 16%
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Students with federal loans: 34%
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedCarnegie Mellon University does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $140,229, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally. The Department uses the national figure for a college that mostly enrolls out-of-state students or operates in several states.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
94%
Freshman Retention
98%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Scholarships available
Decision support · Cost & value
Quick Decision Highlights
The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.
Strong post-grad earnings
$115k above avg
Manageable graduate debt
$21.8k below avg
Strong completion rate
94% above avg
Affordability snapshot
Tuition
$66.2k
Net price
$31.9k
Pell
16%
Median debt
$21.8k
below avg
Earnings (10y)
$115k
above avg
“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
12%
SAT range
1500 - 1570
ACT range
34 - 35
Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)
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Location
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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school
Institution does not report this
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Academics
Studying online: a small share study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 514 of Carnegie Mellon University's 15,596 students (3%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 1,806 (12%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
Carnegie Mellon University reported conferring credentials in 81 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Campus & Student Life
Area Safety Rating
Decision support
Similar schools
Worth a closer look if Carnegie Mellon University caught your interest.
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Graduate earnings by program
What Carnegie Mellon University graduates earn, by program
Carnegie Mellon University's master's graduates in Computer and Information Sciences earned a median $193,154 four years after graduating, 56% above the $124,201 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $138,781; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $61,305 in federal loans at this college (about $697 a month on a 10-year plan).
43 programs at Carnegie Mellon University have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, Master's | $193,154 | $124,201, +56% | $61,305 | $697/mo |
| Electrical Engineering, Master's | $209,847 | $133,654, +57% | $61,500 | $700/mo |
| Management Science, Master's | — | $124,807 | $80,887 | $920/mo |
| Computer Science, Bachelor's | $268,121 | $107,009, +151% | $21,442 | $227/mo |
| IT Administration and Management, Master's | $146,578 | $121,855, +20% | $51,970 | $591/mo |
| Statistics, Bachelor's | $156,743 | $92,425, +70% | $21,000 | $223/mo |
| Mechanical Engineering, Master's | $127,603 | $115,974, +10% | $34,193 | $389/mo |
| Electrical Engineering, Bachelor's | $250,168 | $100,647, +149% | $22,224 | $236/mo |
| Business Administration, Bachelor's | $160,783 | $68,257, +136% | $23,250 | $246/mo |
| Systems Science and Theory, Bachelor's | $146,929 | $88,036, +67% | $23,250 | $246/mo |
| Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor's | $105,623 | $92,135, +15% | $22,777 | $241/mo |
| Public Policy Analysis, Master's | $103,268 | $93,020, +11% | $41,000 | $466/mo |
What the job pays locally
- Electrical Engineering graduates train as electrical engineers: median $110,820 in Pennsylvania.
- Mechanical Engineering graduates train as mechanical engineers: median $97,920 in Pennsylvania.
- Chemical Engineering graduates train as chemical engineers: median $116,970 in Pennsylvania.
- Civil Engineering graduates train as civil engineers: median $97,850 in Pennsylvania.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.
Show 31 more programs
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, Bachelor's | $187,437 | $92,374, +103% | — | — |
| Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering, Master's | $221,170 | $140,634, +57% | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Master's | — | $106,375 | $65,577 | $746/mo |
| Computer Software and Media Applications, Master's | $113,586 | $120,083, −5% | $111,064 | $1,263/mo |
| Engineering-Related Fields, Master's | $126,105 | $125,651, about the same | — | — |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Master's | $59,727 | $59,685, about the same | $70,864 | $806/mo |
| Theatre, Bachelor's | $40,073 | $39,775, about the same | $25,000 | $265/mo |
| Economics, Bachelor's | $144,886 | $82,686, +75% | $22,020 | $233/mo |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Bachelor's | $109,648 | $93,451, +17% | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering, Bachelor's | $110,378 | $98,158, +12% | $23,125 | $245/mo |
| Statistics, Master's | $132,407 | $123,816, +7% | — | — |
| Music, Master's | $39,953 | $48,285, −17% | $50,693 | $577/mo |
| Design and Applied Arts, Bachelor's | $138,588 | $51,490, +169% | $24,500 | $260/mo |
| Health and Medical Administration, Master's | $150,366 | $89,981, +67% | — | — |
| Civil Engineering, Bachelor's | $105,199 | $86,517, +22% | — | — |
| Psychology, Bachelor's | $82,433 | $50,706, +63% | — | — |
| Materials Sciences, Bachelor's | $119,715 | $94,684, +26% | — | — |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology, Bachelor's | — | $70,074 | $29,000 | $307/mo |
| Mathematics and Statistics, Other, Bachelor's | $145,741 | $88,839, +64% | — | — |
| Music, Bachelor's | — | $42,892 | $24,431 | $259/mo |
| Liberal Arts and General Studies, Bachelor's | $62,027 | $53,072, +17% | $25,515 | $271/mo |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Bachelor's | $53,726 | $41,367, +30% | $21,281 | $226/mo |
| Writing and Rhetoric, Master's | $78,716 | $55,035, +43% | $29,204 | $332/mo |
| Engineering, Bachelor's | $110,208 | $89,359, +23% | — | — |
| Theatre, Master's | $52,930 | $49,978, +6% | $79,859 | $908/mo |
| Writing and Rhetoric, Bachelor's | $71,205 | $48,471, +47% | — | — |
| Public Administration, Master's | $84,419 | $81,408, +4% | $40,772 | $464/mo |
| Cognitive Science, Bachelor's | $162,106 | $81,496, +99% | — | — |
| Architecture, Bachelor's | $73,439 | $66,914, +10% | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts, Master's | — | $70,073 | $64,233 | $731/mo |
| Business Administration, Master's | $208,503 | $103,485, +101% | $110,500 | $1,257/mo |
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
About Carnegie Mellon University
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
- Where is Carnegie Mellon University located?
- Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburgh, PA, in the United States.
- What type of institution is Carnegie Mellon University?
- Carnegie Mellon University is a private university based in PA. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
- What is the acceptance rate at Carnegie Mellon University?
- The most recently reported acceptance rate at Carnegie Mellon University is approximately 12% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
- What is the tuition at Carnegie Mellon University?
- Carnegie Mellon University's published in-state tuition is approximately $66,246 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
- How many students attend Carnegie Mellon University?
- Carnegie Mellon University reports total enrollment of approximately 15,888 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
- How much does Carnegie Mellon University actually cost after financial aid?
- The average net price at Carnegie Mellon University is approximately $31,944 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $9,097 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $51,480. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
- What is the graduation rate at Carnegie Mellon University?
- Carnegie Mellon University reports a graduation rate of approximately 94% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
- How much student debt do graduates of Carnegie Mellon University have?
- Students who borrowed at Carnegie Mellon University left with a median of approximately $21,750 in federal loans, and about 34% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
- How much do graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn?
- Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $114,862 for students who received federal financial aid at Carnegie Mellon University. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
- How should I verify final details about Carnegie Mellon University?
- CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with Carnegie Mellon University.
- How much do Computer and Information Sciences graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn?
- Carnegie Mellon University's master's graduates in Computer and Information Sciences earned a median $193,154 four years after graduating, 56% above the $124,201 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $138,781; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $61,305 in federal loans at this college (about $697 a month on a 10-year plan).
- How much do Electrical Engineering graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn?
- Carnegie Mellon University's master's graduates in Electrical Engineering earned a median $209,847 four years after graduating, 57% above the $133,654 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $160,336; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $61,500 in federal loans at this college (about $700 a month on a 10-year plan).
- Which programs at Carnegie Mellon University have the highest graduate earnings?
- Among the 22 programs at Carnegie Mellon University with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Computer Science, bachelor's ($268,121); Electrical Engineering, bachelor's ($250,168); and Electrical Engineering, master's ($209,847) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
- Does Carnegie Mellon University get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
- No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, Carnegie Mellon University's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $140,229, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
The 14 largest of 81 fields Carnegie Mellon University reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 1,123 | Graduate (980 graduate · 143 bachelor's) |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 663 | Graduate (416 graduate · 247 bachelor's) |
| Computer Science | 424 | Graduate (109 graduate · 315 bachelor's) |
| Mechanical Engineering | 355 | Graduate (250 graduate · 105 bachelor's) |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 307 | Graduate |
| Computer Engineering | 285 | Graduate |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 214 | Graduate (10 graduate · 204 bachelor's) |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 210 | Graduate |
| Statistics | 207 | Graduate (21 graduate · 186 bachelor's) |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 163 | Graduate (104 graduate · 59 bachelor's) |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 162 | Graduate |
| Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering | 156 | Graduate (144 graduate · 12 bachelor's) |
| Systems Science and Theory | 152 | Graduate (2 graduate · 150 bachelor's) |
| Applied Mathematics | 142 | Graduate (98 graduate · 44 bachelor's) |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Compare colleges side by side. Other colleges in Pittsburgh, PA. All colleges in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania college costs by family income. Student debt at Pennsylvania colleges. Computer science in Pennsylvania. Business major guide. Nursing in Pennsylvania. Psychology in Pennsylvania. Engineering in Pennsylvania.
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with Carnegie Mellon University before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.
Facts on this profile of Carnegie Mellon University are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). Carnegie Mellon University, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/carnegie-mellon-university
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