Explore alternatives based on outcomes, location, cost, and admission difficulty
Given Carnegie Mellon's 11.4% acceptance rate, most applicants—even highly qualified ones—will need backup options. The schools below deliver comparable career outcomes with more accessible admission rates or different advantages.
These schools offer higher acceptance rates while delivering comparable career outcomes.
For similar outcomes with better admission odds, consider Stevens Institute of Technology (43.4% acceptance, $108,772 median earnings) in New Jersey, just 311 miles from Pittsburgh. Stevens offers strong engineering and technology programs with significantly more realistic admission prospects. Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts admits 58.5% of applicants while producing graduates earning $103,470, representing a 47 percentage point improvement in admission odds with comparable technical education quality.
Strong options in the same region with comparable academic profiles.
Students who prefer the Mid-Atlantic region should consider Stevens Institute of Technology (43.4% acceptance, $108,772 earnings) in nearby New Jersey or Cornell University (8.2% acceptance, $104,043 earnings) in New York. Both institutions maintain strong technical programs within a reasonable distance of Pittsburgh, though Cornell remains similarly selective to Carnegie Mellon.
Schools with comparable admission profiles — useful for building a balanced list.
Other highly selective options include Harvey Mudd College (13.1% acceptance, $138,687 earnings) for students prioritizing STEM programs and potentially higher earnings outcomes. Johns Hopkins University (7.6% acceptance, $87,555 earnings) offers strong research opportunities with similar selectivity, though at lower median earnings than Carnegie Mellon.
Similar career outcomes at significantly lower cost.
Elite universities with similar prestige and academic caliber
