Carnegie Mellon combines highly selective admissions with exceptional long-term earnings outcomes. As a Selective Achiever institution, the university produces $10,270 in earnings beyond expectations while maintaining controlled debt levels, supporting strong financial returns for graduates across technical and business programs.
Among the highest we track, reflecting the institution's ability to deliver strong earnings relative to educational investment
Higher net costs typical of selective private institutions
Above-typical enrollment of diverse student populations for a highly selective institution
Demonstrating effectiveness in supporting economic advancement
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisCarnegie Mellon delivers exceptional earnings outcomes relative to educational investment and student composition. Graduates earn a median of $114,862 ten years after enrollment, ranking at the 99.0th percentile nationally among the highest we track.
Earnings range from $72,560 at the 25th percentile to $182,769 at the 75th percentile, reflecting the institution's concentration in high-earning technical fields and business programs. The institution generates $10,270 in earnings beyond expectations, placing it well above average at the 86.0th percentile nationally on this measure.
Students seeking top-tier computer science and engineering programs with strong earning potential. Carnegie Mellon's Selective Achiever profile reflects exceptional post-graduation outcomes while serving fewer low-income students.
Best suited for high-achieving students prioritizing technical excellence and career returns over affordability.
Carnegie Mellon admits approximately 11.4% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 9 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places the institution among the most selective universities in the United States, within the Highly Selective tier (10-25% admission rate). The peer median admission rate of 70.6% highlights the stark difference between Carnegie Mellon's selectivity and typical four-year institutions, representing a gap of nearly 60 percentage points.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Carnegie Mellon's published cost of attendance reaches $80,514 per year, including $63,829 in tuition, $17,468 for room and board, and $1,000 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $31,671 after financial aid, representing savings of $48,843 from the sticker price. This net price exceeds the peer median of $27,143 by $4,528, reflecting the premium typical of highly selective private institutions.
The institution's financial aid effectiveness varies significantly by family income level. Net prices range from $8,460 for families earning under $30,000 to $52,593 for those earning over $110,000, creating a $44,133 spread between the lowest and highest income tiers. This progressive aid structure concentrates the largest subsidies toward lower-income families while requiring higher-income families to pay closer to full cost. For middle-income families earning $48,000-$75,000, the net price reaches $17,534, representing substantial aid relative to the full cost of attendance.
Computer Science.
237 graduates
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
140 graduates
Mathematical Statistics and Probability.
169 graduates
Commercial Photography.
37 graduates
Business Administration and Management, General.
116 graduates
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stevens Institute Of Technology Higher acceptance rate (32 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NJ | 43% | $108,772 | Compare |
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Carnegie Mellon University hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/carnegie-mellon-university/analysis.
Top 5% nationally for graduate earnings
Carnegie Mellon University ranks #105 nationally with return performance at the 99.0th percentile, placing it among the highest we track. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized private university maintains highly selective admissions with an 11.4% acceptance rate while delivering exceptional long-term earnings outcomes.
The institution enrolls 15.2% Pell-eligible students and 10.0% first-generation students, reflecting the typical composition of selective private institutions. Carnegie Mellon graduates earn $10,270 beyond expectations relative to similar students, ranking at the 86.0th percentile nationally and placing it well above average on this measure.
Median earnings reach $114,862 ten years after enrollment, ranking at the 99.0th percentile nationally among the highest we track. Compared to a peer median of $63,066, Carnegie Mellon graduates earn $51,796 more annually.
This combination of selective admissions, strong technical programs, and exceptional earnings places Carnegie Mellon within the Selective Achievers quadrant, where institutions serve fewer low-income students while delivering outstanding post-graduation outcomes.
This level of selectivity means that even exceptionally qualified students—those with perfect test scores and outstanding academic records—face significant uncertainty in the admission process. Many students who would thrive at Carnegie Mellon do not receive admission due to the volume of highly qualified applicants competing for limited spots. Students should approach Carnegie Mellon as a reach school regardless of their qualifications and build comprehensive college lists that include institutions with higher acceptance rates but comparable post-graduation outcomes. The alternatives section below identifies schools that deliver similar career results with more accessible admission rates.
Carnegie Mellon graduates demonstrate modest but consistent earnings growth from early to mid-career periods. Median earnings rise from $105,360 six years after enrollment to $105,524 at eight years and $114,862 at ten years, representing 9.0% growth from the six-year mark. These outcomes are based on a ten-year cohort of 938 graduates, providing high confidence in the reported figures.
Graduates earn $10,270 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Carnegie Mellon well above average at the 86.0th percentile for earnings uplift. Low-income graduates earn $112,300, ranking among the top 5% nationally and demonstrating the institution's ability to deliver strong outcomes across economic backgrounds. Earnings span from $72,560 at the 25th percentile to $182,769 at the 75th percentile, reflecting significant variation based on program choice and career trajectory. Approximately 29.6% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both advanced education and immediate workforce entry.
Carnegie Mellon offers 19 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for ranking analysis. Computer Science ranks #2 nationally and #1 in Pennsylvania, producing 237 graduates with median earnings of $247,552 and a value score of 99.5. Mathematical Statistics and Probability ranks #1 nationally and #1 in Pennsylvania, graduating 169 students with median earnings of $142,883 and a perfect value score of 100.0.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering ranks #4 nationally and #1 in Pennsylvania, graduating 140 students with median earnings of $149,740. Systems Science and Theory ranks #1 nationally with 127 graduates earning $118,034. Business Administration and Management ranks #2 nationally, graduating 116 students with median earnings of $123,200. Commercial Photography achieves #1 national ranking with a perfect 100.0 value score, though with a smaller cohort of 37 graduates earning $126,932.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Higher acceptance rate (47.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MA | 59% | $103,470 | Compare |
Stevens Institute Of Technology Same region with similar earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | NJ | 43% | $108,772 | Compare |
Cornell University Same region with similar earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | NY | 8% | $104,043 | Compare |
Harvey Mudd College Similar admission rate (1.7 percentage points difference) and similar test scores (8 point difference) with similar program focus | CA | 13% | $138,687 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington University In St Louis Similar quality tier (#104 ranked) | MO | 12% | $86,182 | #104 | Compare |
Northwestern University Similar quality tier (#102 ranked) | IL | 7% | $89,363 | #102 | Compare |
University Of Notre Dame Similar quality tier (#94 ranked) | IN | 12% | $99,980 | #94 | Compare |
Duke University Similar quality tier (#93 ranked) | NC | 7% | $97,800 | #93 | Compare |
Lehigh University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#119 ranked) | PA | 29% | $105,584 | #119 | Compare |
