Carnegie Mellon University
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Carnegie Mellon University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 19% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 100th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (PA wage index 0.97). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Carnegie Mellon University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $171,264 | $268,121 | +151% | #1 of 349 | #1 | $21,442 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $139,337 | $250,168 | +149% | #1 of 258 | #1 | $22,224 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | $187,437 | +103% | #5 of 459 | #3 | — |
| Cognitive Science | — | $162,106 | +99% | #1 of 19 | #1 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $95,891 | $160,783 | +136% | #1 of 1176 | #1 | $23,250 |
| Statistics | $93,111 | $156,743 | +70% | #2 of 50 | #3 | $21,000 |
| Systems Science and Theory | $95,598 | $146,929 | +67% | #1 of 6 | #1 | $23,250 |
| Mathematics and Statistics | — | $145,741 | +64% | #1 of 9 | #1 | — |
| Economics | $86,284 | $144,886 | +75% | #8 of 368 | #4 | $22,020 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $66,274 | $138,588 | +169% | #1 of 299 | #1 | $24,500 |
| Materials Sciences | — | $119,715 | +26% | — | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | — | $110,378 | +12% | #13 of 158 | #23 | $23,125 |
| Engineering | — | $110,208 | +23% | #5 of 57 | #4 | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | — | $109,648 | +17% | #10 of 118 | #7 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | $76,523 | $105,623 | +15% | #17 of 318 | #22 | $22,777 |
| Civil Engineering | — | $105,199 | +22% | #6 of 233 | #1 | — |
| Psychology | — | $82,433 | +63% | #4 of 1027 | #3 | — |
| Architecture | — | $73,439 | +10% | #16 of 78 | #16 | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | — | $71,205 | +47% | #3 of 137 | #4 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | $62,027 | +17% | #69 of 476 | #58 | $25,515 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $32,597 | $53,726 | +30% | #29 of 423 | #19 | $21,281 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $48,514 | — | — | — | — | $29,000 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $32,967 | $40,073 | +1% | #128 of 255 | #114 | $25,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Carnegie Mellon University Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $272,439
- Avg rent near campus: $1,691/mo — vs ~$1,156/mo campus room rate
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 15210 (9.3% cap, Mount Oliver)
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🏆 Where Carnegie Mellon University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $62,260 | $62,260 |
| Room | $10,400 | |
| Board | $7,068 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $83,697 | $83,697 |
Financial Aid
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Carnegie Mellon University's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Carnegie Mellon University?
How much does it cost to attend Carnegie Mellon University?
What is the graduation rate at Carnegie Mellon University?
Is Carnegie Mellon University a good school?
- Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (A+): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (A): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Carnegie Mellon University?
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Carnegie Mellon University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to Carnegie Mellon University
Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology