AU vs. Carnegie Mellon

Should I go to American University or Carnegie Mellon University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Carnegie Mellon is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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American University vs. Carnegie Mellon University comparison
American University Carnegie Mellon University College 3 College 4
American University Carnegie Mellon University
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Overview

AU Carnegie Mellon
Location Washington, DC Pittsburgh, PA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 13,885 16,002
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #41
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu cmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Carnegie Mellon
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $59,864
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $59,864
Room & Board $15,706 $16,486
Avg Net Price $41,369 $33,499
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $43,966
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 47%

Admission

AU Carnegie Mellon
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 34,261
Admitted 7,926 3,873
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 11.3%
Enrolled % 22.2% 44.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.89
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 29/32 34/35
SAT Range 1290/1430 1490/1570
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024 Jan 1, 2024

Academics

AU Carnegie Mellon
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 5:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Engineering (26%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Business (9%)
  • General Studies (8%)

Outcomes

AU Carnegie Mellon
Graduation Rate 77% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $102,700
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 91%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $26,250
Median Loan Payment $250 $271

Diversity

AU Carnegie Mellon
% Men 37% 56%
% Women 63% 44%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 58% 32%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 12% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 7% 18%
% Unknown Race 4% 5%

Students

AU Carnegie Mellon
% In-State 2% 11%
% Out-of-State 94% 69%

Campus

AU Carnegie Mellon
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Carnegie Mellon University is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (16,002 students vs. 13,885 students)

AU vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Carnegie Mellon?

  • Carnegie Mellon University is 12.8% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($59,864.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.8% higher at Carnegie Mellon than American University ($59,864.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carnegie Mellon University than AU ($33,499 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 5% lower than costs at Carnegie Mellon University ($15,706 vs. $16,486)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Carnegie Mellon University (66% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 62% larger than aid received American University ($43,966 vs. $27,138)

AU vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Carnegie Mellon? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Carnegie Mellon or AU .

  • The average SAT score at Carnegie Mellon University (1448) is 196 points higher than at AU (1252)
  • Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at AU (28)
  • Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at AU (3.7)
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (40.6%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.3%)

AU vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Carnegie Mellon? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Carnegie Mellon and AU.

  • The graduation rate at Carnegie Mellon is higher than American University (87% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn on average $37,900 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($102,700 vs. $64,800)
  • American University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,250)
  • AU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Carnegie Mellon graduates. ($250 vs. $271)
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/