Harvard vs. Carnegie Mellon

Deciding between Harvard University and Carnegie Mellon University? 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.

Harvard University
Carnegie Mellon University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Carnegie Mellon Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Carnegie Mellon 15,888
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Carnegie Mellon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Carnegie Mellon #45
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Carnegie Mellon -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Carnegie Mellon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Carnegie Mellon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Carnegie Mellon $18,166
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Carnegie Mellon $35,552
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Carnegie Mellon $48,107
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Carnegie Mellon 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Carnegie Mellon 33,941
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Carnegie Mellon 3,959
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Carnegie Mellon 11.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Carnegie Mellon 45.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Carnegie Mellon 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Carnegie Mellon 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Carnegie Mellon 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Carnegie Mellon A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Carnegie Mellon Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Carnegie Mellon 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Carnegie Mellon 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Carnegie Mellon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Carnegie Mellon 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Carnegie Mellon
    • Engineering (26%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Carnegie Mellon 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Carnegie Mellon $102,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Carnegie Mellon 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Carnegie Mellon $26,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Carnegie Mellon $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Carnegie Mellon 57%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Carnegie Mellon 43%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Carnegie Mellon 32%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Carnegie Mellon 28%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Carnegie Mellon 8%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Carnegie Mellon 4%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Carnegie Mellon 18%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Carnegie Mellon 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Carnegie Mellon 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Carnegie Mellon based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 15,888 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

Harvard vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Harvard University than Carnegie Mellon ($17,525 vs. $35,552).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carnegie Mellon University are 14.3% lower than at Harvard University ($18,166 vs. $21,190).
  • Carnegie Mellon University is 7.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $4,570 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.4% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at Harvard University (about $4,570 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Carnegie Mellon University (56% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 41.4% larger than aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students ($68,015 vs. $48,107).

Harvard vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Carnegie Mellon (1540).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Carnegie Mellon).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Carnegie Mellon (3.89).
  • Carnegie Mellon has a higher acceptance rate (11.7%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

Harvard vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Carnegie Mellon? 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Carnegie Mellon University's (87%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $34,000 more per year than Carnegie Mellon graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $102,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $19,750 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($6,500 vs. $26,250).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $204 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($67 vs. $271).
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 70%)

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.