Barnard vs. Carnegie Mellon

Barnard College and Carnegie Mellon University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Barnard College
Carnegie Mellon University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Barnard (8.8% admitted vs 11.7%). Typical SAT 1520 vs 1540.
  • Cheaper after aid: Barnard. Average net price is $26,407 vs $35,552 at Carnegie Mellon.
  • Graduation: Barnard 92% vs Carnegie Mellon 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Barnard $66,900 vs Carnegie Mellon $102,700 (median).
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Key differences

Barnard College Carnegie Mellon University
Acceptance rate
Barnard more selective
Barnard8.8%
Carnegie Mellon11.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Carnegie Mellon higher
Barnard1470-1560
Carnegie Mellon1500-1570
Average net price
Barnard $9,145 less
Barnard$26,407
Carnegie Mellon$35,552
In-state tuition
Carnegie Mellon $3,642 less
Barnard$69,888
Carnegie Mellon$66,246
Out-of-state tuition
Carnegie Mellon $3,642 less
Barnard$69,888
Carnegie Mellon$66,246
Graduation rate
Barnard +5 pts
Barnard92%
Carnegie Mellon87%
Median earnings (10 years)
Carnegie Mellon +$35,800
Barnard$66,900
Carnegie Mellon$102,700

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Carnegie Mellon 33,941
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Carnegie Mellon 3,959
  • Acceptance rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Carnegie Mellon 11.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Carnegie Mellon 45.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • Carnegie Mellon 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • Carnegie Mellon 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Carnegie Mellon 3.89
  • Typical high school grades
  • Barnard A
  • Carnegie Mellon A
  • Admissions standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • Carnegie Mellon Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • SAT range
  • Barnard 1470-1560
  • Carnegie Mellon 1500-1570
  • ACT range
  • Barnard 32-34
  • Carnegie Mellon 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Carnegie Mellon Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Room & board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Carnegie Mellon $18,166
  • Average net price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Carnegie Mellon $35,552
  • Average grant aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • Carnegie Mellon $48,107
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • Carnegie Mellon 51%
  • Graduation rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • Carnegie Mellon 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Carnegie Mellon $102,700
  • Making student loan payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • Carnegie Mellon 91%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Carnegie Mellon $26,250
  • Median loan payment
  • Barnard $184
  • Carnegie Mellon $271
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Carnegie Mellon 5:1
  • Popular majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Carnegie Mellon
    • Engineering (26%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • Carnegie Mellon Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Carnegie Mellon 15,888
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • Carnegie Mellon Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • Carnegie Mellon #45

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Carnegie Mellon University is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 3,487 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Barnard College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Barnard College 10:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carnegie Mellon University are 16.3% lower than at Barnard College ($18,166 vs. $21,714).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at Barnard than at Carnegie Mellon University (about $3,642 more per year; $69,888 vs. $66,246).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carnegie Mellon University than at Barnard College (51% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 31.2% larger than aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students ($63,131 vs. $48,107).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Carnegie Mellon than at Barnard (34 vs. 33, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Barnard and Carnegie Mellon.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Carnegie Mellon average a 3.89 high school GPA, 0.04 higher than at Barnard (3.85).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $8,403 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($17,847 vs. $26,250).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $87 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($184 vs. $271).
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Barnard students, three years after graduation (91% vs. 89%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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