Carnegie Mellon vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between Carnegie Mellon University and Virginia Tech? 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
Virginia Tech

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, PA
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Carnegie Mellon Large City
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Carnegie Mellon 15,888
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • Carnegie Mellon Private 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Carnegie Mellon #45
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Carnegie Mellon -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • Carnegie Mellon Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Carnegie Mellon
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • Carnegie Mellon $18,166
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • Carnegie Mellon $35,552
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Carnegie Mellon $48,107
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Carnegie Mellon 51%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Carnegie Mellon 33,941
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • Carnegie Mellon 3,959
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Carnegie Mellon 11.7%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Carnegie Mellon 45.7%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Carnegie Mellon 1540
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Carnegie Mellon 34
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Carnegie Mellon 3.89
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Carnegie Mellon A-
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Carnegie Mellon Elite
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • Carnegie Mellon 34/35
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Carnegie Mellon 1500/1570
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Carnegie Mellon Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Carnegie Mellon 5:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Carnegie Mellon
    • Engineering (26%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Carnegie Mellon 87%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Carnegie Mellon $102,700
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Carnegie Mellon 91%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Carnegie Mellon $26,250
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Carnegie Mellon $271
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Carnegie Mellon 61%
  • Virginia Tech 55%
  • % Women
  • Carnegie Mellon 39%
  • Virginia Tech 45%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • Carnegie Mellon 32%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • Carnegie Mellon 28%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Carnegie Mellon 8%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Carnegie Mellon 4%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • Carnegie Mellon 18%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Carnegie Mellon 9%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Carnegie Mellon 68%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Tech is larger than Carnegie Mellon based on total student enrollment (38,857 students vs. 15,888 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Carnegie Mellon University 5:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

Carnegie Mellon vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carnegie Mellon or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech than Carnegie Mellon ($24,912 vs. $35,552).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Tech are 8.9% lower than at Carnegie Mellon University ($16,550 vs. $18,166).
  • Carnegie Mellon University is 315.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Tech (about $50,298 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $15,948.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 75.4% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at Virginia Tech (about $28,482 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Tech than at Carnegie Mellon University (60% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 424.7% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($48,107 vs. $9,168).

Carnegie Mellon vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carnegie Mellon or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech and Carnegie Mellon.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 170 points higher than at Virginia Tech (1370).
  • Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Virginia Tech).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Carnegie Mellon University 34/35; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Carnegie Mellon - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Virginia Tech - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Carnegie Mellon (3.89).
  • Virginia Tech has a higher acceptance rate (54.8%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

Carnegie Mellon vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carnegie Mellon and Virginia Tech? 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).

  • Carnegie Mellon University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Virginia Tech's (82%).
  • Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $37,700 more per year than Virginia Tech graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $65,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have a $2,284 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($23,966 vs. $26,250).
  • Among borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($247 vs. $271).
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Virginia Tech students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 81%)

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.