Carnegie Mellon vs. Penn State

Deciding between Carnegie Mellon University and Penn State Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Carnegie Mellon University
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, PA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Carnegie Mellon Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Carnegie Mellon 15,888
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Carnegie Mellon Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Carnegie Mellon #45
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Carnegie Mellon -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Carnegie Mellon Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Carnegie Mellon
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Carnegie Mellon $18,166
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Carnegie Mellon $35,552
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Carnegie Mellon $48,107
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Carnegie Mellon 51%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Carnegie Mellon 33,941
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Carnegie Mellon 3,959
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Carnegie Mellon 11.7%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Carnegie Mellon 45.7%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Carnegie Mellon 1540
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Carnegie Mellon 34
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Carnegie Mellon 3.89
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Carnegie Mellon A
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Carnegie Mellon Elite
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Carnegie Mellon 34/35
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Carnegie Mellon 1500/1570
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Carnegie Mellon Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Carnegie Mellon 5:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Carnegie Mellon
    • Engineering (26%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Carnegie Mellon 87%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Carnegie Mellon $102,700
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Carnegie Mellon 91%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Carnegie Mellon $26,250
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Carnegie Mellon $271
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Carnegie Mellon 57%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Carnegie Mellon 43%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Carnegie Mellon 32%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Carnegie Mellon 28%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Carnegie Mellon 8%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Carnegie Mellon 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Carnegie Mellon 18%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Carnegie Mellon 9%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Carnegie Mellon 68%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Carnegie Mellon Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Carnegie Mellon Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Carnegie Mellon Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Carnegie Mellon based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 15,888 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Carnegie Mellon University 5:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Carnegie Mellon vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carnegie Mellon or Penn State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than Carnegie Mellon ($27,889 vs. $35,552).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 20.3% lower than at Carnegie Mellon University ($14,474 vs. $18,166).
  • Carnegie Mellon University is 220.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $45,602 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 58.5% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at Penn State Main Campus (about $24,456 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carnegie Mellon University than at Penn State Main Campus (51% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 324.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($48,107 vs. $11,336).

Carnegie Mellon vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carnegie Mellon or Penn State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State and Carnegie Mellon.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 210 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Carnegie Mellon University 34/35; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Carnegie Mellon - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Carnegie Mellon vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carnegie Mellon and Penn State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • The graduation rate at Carnegie Mellon is the same as at Penn State Main Campus (87% vs. 87%).
  • Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $47,400 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Carnegie Mellon University graduates have a $568 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($26,250 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Carnegie Mellon graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($271 vs. $277).
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.