WPI vs. Carnegie Mellon

Deciding between Worcester Polytechnic Institute 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.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Carnegie Mellon University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WPI Worcester, MA
  • Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • WPI Midsize City
  • Carnegie Mellon Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • WPI 7,584
  • Carnegie Mellon 15,888
  • Type
  • WPI Private 4 Year
  • Carnegie Mellon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WPI
  • Carnegie Mellon #45
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WPI -
  • Carnegie Mellon -
  • Status
  • WPI Non-profit
  • Carnegie Mellon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WPI
  • Carnegie Mellon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WPI $60,965
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WPI $60,965
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Room & Board
  • WPI $18,386
  • Carnegie Mellon $18,166
  • Average Net Price
  • WPI $47,372
  • Carnegie Mellon $35,552
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WPI $31,545
  • Carnegie Mellon $48,107
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WPI 100%
  • Carnegie Mellon 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WPI 12,559
  • Carnegie Mellon 33,941
  • Admitted
  • WPI 7,555
  • Carnegie Mellon 3,959
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WPI 60.2%
  • Carnegie Mellon 11.7%
  • Enrolled
  • WPI 18.1%
  • Carnegie Mellon 45.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WPI
  • Carnegie Mellon 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • WPI
  • Carnegie Mellon 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • WPI 3.9
  • Carnegie Mellon 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WPI A
  • Carnegie Mellon A
  • Admissions Standards
  • WPI Unavailable
  • Carnegie Mellon Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • WPI Low
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • ACT Range
  • WPI
  • Carnegie Mellon 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • WPI
  • Carnegie Mellon 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WPI Test-free
  • Carnegie Mellon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WPI Feb 15, 2027
  • Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WPI 13:1
  • Carnegie Mellon 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WPI
    • Engineering (61%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • General Studies (5%)
    • Business (4%)
  • Carnegie Mellon
    • Engineering (26%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WPI 76%
  • Carnegie Mellon 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WPI $82,700
  • Carnegie Mellon $102,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WPI 92%
  • Carnegie Mellon 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WPI $27,000
  • Carnegie Mellon $26,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WPI $279
  • Carnegie Mellon $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WPI 68%
  • Carnegie Mellon 57%
  • % Women
  • WPI 32%
  • Carnegie Mellon 43%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WPI Medium
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • HBCU
  • WPI No
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • % White
  • WPI 63%
  • Carnegie Mellon 32%
  • % Asian
  • WPI 5%
  • Carnegie Mellon 28%
  • % Black
  • WPI 2%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • WPI 8%
  • Carnegie Mellon 8%
  • % Native American
  • WPI 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WPI 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WPI 3%
  • Carnegie Mellon 4%
  • % International
  • WPI 12%
  • Carnegie Mellon 18%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WPI 6%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WPI 48%
  • Carnegie Mellon 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WPI 48%
  • Carnegie Mellon 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Carnegie Mellon University is larger than WPI based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 7,584 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Worcester Polytechnic Institute 13:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

WPI vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WPI 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 WPI ($35,552 vs. $47,372).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carnegie Mellon University are 1.2% lower than at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($18,166 vs. $18,386).
  • Carnegie Mellon University is 8.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than WPI (about $5,281 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $60,965.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.7% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (about $5,281 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $60,965.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute than at Carnegie Mellon University (100% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 52.5% larger than aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students ($48,107 vs. $31,545).

WPI vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WPI 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 WPI.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCarnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCarnegie Mellon University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WPI - Test-free; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WPI Feb 15, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Carnegie Mellon (3.89).
  • WPI has a higher acceptance rate (60.2%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at WPI vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

WPI vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WPI 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 Worcester Polytechnic Institute's (76%).
  • Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $20,000 more per year than WPI graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $82,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Carnegie Mellon University graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than WPI graduates ($26,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Carnegie Mellon graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WPI graduates ($271 vs. $279).
  • More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Carnegie Mellon students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 91%)

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.