RIT vs. Carnegie Mellon

Comparable Facts

Compare Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than Carnegie Mellon based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 15,888 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
• Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

RIT vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIT 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 Carnegie Mellon University than RIT ($35,552 vs. $39,534).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 11.1% lower than at Carnegie Mellon University ($16,142 vs. $18,166).
• Carnegie Mellon University is 11.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIT (about $6,972 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.8% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at Rochester Institute of Technology (about $6,972 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Carnegie Mellon University (98% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 37.1% larger than aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students ($48,107 vs. $35,077).

RIT vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RIT 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 RIT .

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 160 points higher than at RIT (1380).
• Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at RIT ).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RIT - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: RIT Jan 15, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at RIT (3.7).
• RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.3% at RIT vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

RIT vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RIT 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).

• Carnegie Mellon University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
• Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $37,800 more per year than RIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $64,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carnegie Mellon University graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($26,250 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Carnegie Mellon graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($271 vs. $289).
• More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 75%)

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.