UNC Chapel Hill vs. Carnegie Mellon

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than Carnegie Mellon based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 15,888 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNC Chapel Hill 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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill than Carnegie Mellon ($10,154 vs. $35,552).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 24% lower than at Carnegie Mellon University ($13,804 vs. $18,166).
• Carnegie Mellon University is 636.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $57,252 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $8,994.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 60.8% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (about $25,043 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $41,203.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carnegie Mellon University than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (51% vs. 38%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 170.1% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($48,107 vs. $17,814).

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNC Chapel Hill 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 UNC Chapel Hill.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 80 points higher than at UNC Chapel Hill (1460).
• Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at UNC Chapel Hill).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at UNC Chapel Hill (3.83).
• UNC Chapel Hill has a higher acceptance rate (15.3%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNC Chapel Hill 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).

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than Carnegie Mellon University's (87%).
• Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $36,600 more per year than UNC Chapel Hill graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $66,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $9,771 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($16,479 vs. $26,250).
• Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $101 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($170 vs. $271).
• More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNC Chapel Hill students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 82%)

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.