Carnegie Mellon University

www.cmu.edu/

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2020 Undergraduate Tuition

$57,560

3.12% growth from 2019

2020 Average Net Price

$36,983

After Financial Aid

2018 Student Loan

0.738%

Default Rate

2020 Acceptance Rate

17.3%

26,189 Applicants

2020 Enrolled Students

13,519

91.1% Full-Time

2020 Graduation Rate

93.5%

1,372 Graduates

About

Carnegie Mellon University is a higher education institution located in Allegheny County, PA. In 2020, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Carnegie Mellon University were Computer Science (237 degrees awarded), General Statistics (162 degrees), and Electrical & Electronics Engineering (140 degrees).

In 2020, 5,450 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Carnegie Mellon University. 42.3% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 57.7% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,153 degrees), 1.32 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (872 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Carnegie Mellon University is $57,560, which is $28,997 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,563).

About the photo: View of CMU and the Carnegie Museums from the Cathedral of Learning. You can see the entire main campus of Carnegie Mellon (top), the Carnegie Museums, and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (bottom).

Photo by James Lin

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Carnegie Mellon University is $57,560, which is $28,997 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,563).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $36,983.

In 2020, 51% of undergraduate students attending Carnegie Mellon University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 39% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$57,560

2020 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2020, the cost of tuition at Carnegie Mellon University was $57,560. The cost of tuition at Carnegie Mellon University is $28,997 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,563).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Carnegie Mellon University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$36,983

2020 Value

20.8%

1 Year Growth

In 2020 Carnegie Mellon University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $36,983. Between 2019 and 2020, the average net price of Carnegie Mellon University grew by 20.8%.

This chart compares the average net price of Carnegie Mellon University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$14,567

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Carnegie Mellon University was of $14,567 in 2020. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. The cost of room and board increased by 1.03% between 2019 and 2020. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Carnegie Mellon University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

51%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

39%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

51% of undergraduate students at Carnegie Mellon University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2020. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2019, when 51% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Carnegie Mellon University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

0.738%

2018 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2018 the default rate for borrower's at Carnegie Mellon University was 0.738%, which represents 9 out of the 1219 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Carnegie Mellon University received 26,189 undergraduate applications in 2020, which represents a 5.23% annual decline. Out of those 26,189 applicants, 4,524 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 17.3% acceptance rate.

There were 13,519 students enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University in 2020, and 76% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Carnegie Mellon University has an overall enrollment yield of 36.2%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

17.3%

Acceptance Rate in 2020

4,524

Accepted Out of 26,189

In 2020, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Carnegie Mellon University was 17.3% (4,524 admissions from 26,189 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2019, which was 15.4%. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of applicants declined by −5.23%, while admissions grew by 6.02%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Carnegie Mellon University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

76%

Submission Percentage

1,241

Scores Submitted

76% of enrolled first-time students at Carnegie Mellon University in 2020 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Carnegie Mellon University has a total enrollment of 13,519 students. The full-time enrollment at Carnegie Mellon University is 12,320 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,199. This means that 91.1% of students enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Carnegie Mellon University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 23.5% White, 21.4% Asian, 5.83% Hispanic or Latino, 3.07% Black or African American, 2.71% Two or More Races, 0.0518% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0148% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Asian Female (19.6%), followed by Asian Male (15.1%) and White Male (13.6%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Male (12.2%), followed by White Female (7.04%) and Asian Male (4.53%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

91.1%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Carnegie Mellon University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 13,519 students. The full-time enrollment at Carnegie Mellon University is 12,320 and the part-time enrollment is 1,199. This means that 91.1% of students enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University are enrolled full-time compared with 76.5% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Carnegie Mellon University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

96%

2020 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Carnegie Mellon University was 96%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (85%), Carnegie Mellon University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Carnegie Mellon University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity

White
3,171
Asian
2,895
Hispanic or Latino
788

The enrolled student population at Carnegie Mellon University is 23.5% White, 21.4% Asian, 5.83% Hispanic or Latino, 3.07% Black or African American, 2.71% Two or More Races, 0.0518% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0148% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 50% White, 15% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.69% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 860 students (6.36%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2020, 842 fewer women than men received degrees from Carnegie Mellon University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Carnegie Mellon University is white (1,153 degrees awarded). There were 1.32 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (872 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Carnegie Mellon University is Computer Science (237 degrees awarded), followed by General Statistics (162 degrees) and Electrical & Electronics Engineering (140 degrees).

The most specialized majors across all degree types at Carnegie Mellon University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Engineering (1,593 degrees awarded), Math & Statistics (332 degrees), and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (1,432 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Software developers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Carnegie Mellon University are Software developers (854,715 people), Other managers (468,512 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (362,336 people), Civil engineers (261,405 people), and Postsecondary teachers (218,739 people).

The most specialized majors at Carnegie Mellon University are Engineering (1,593 degrees awarded), Math & Statistics (332 degrees), Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (1,432 degrees), Architecture and Related Services (80 degrees), and Physical Sciences (223 degrees).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Carnegie Mellon University are Surgeons, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Physicians, and Derrick, rotary drill, & service unit operators, & roustabouts, oil, gas, & mining

Common Industries by Major

Computer Systems Design

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Carnegie Mellon University are Computer Systems Design (964,492 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (596,445 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (420,770 people), Construction (328,892 people), and Elementary & secondary schools (262,595 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Carnegie Mellon University.

Most Common

Computer Science
237 degree-majorss awarded
General Statistics
162 degree-majorss awarded
Electrical & Electronics Engineering
140 degree-majorss awarded

In 2020, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Carnegie Mellon University was Computer Science with 237 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Carnegie Mellon University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

3,146

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2020

2,304

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2020

In 2020, 3,146 degrees were awarded to men at Carnegie Mellon University, which is 1.37 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,304).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Carnegie Mellon University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2020, 409 degrees were awarded to men at Carnegie Mellon University in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, which is 2.32 times more than the 176 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2020, 305 degrees were awarded to women at Carnegie Mellon University in Information Technology, which is 1.1 times more than the 277 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

75%

100% Completion Time

89%

150% Completion Time

In 2020, 75% of students graduating from Carnegie Mellon University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 89% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 90% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Male

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Carnegie Mellon University is Male and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.4%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 4.08% of graduates (56 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
1,153 degrees awarded
Asian
872 degrees awarded
Unknown
252 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Carnegie Mellon University is white (1,153 degrees awarded). There were 1.32 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (872 degrees).

4.62% of degree recipients (252 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic

White Male
681 degrees awarded
White Female
472 degrees awarded
Asian Female
459 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Carnegie Mellon University is white male (681 degrees awarded). There were 1.44 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (472 degrees).

Operations

Carnegie Mellon University has an endowment valued at nearly $2.07B, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $140M (6.79%), compared to the 3.43% average return ($10.5M on $307M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2020, Carnegie Mellon University had a total salary expenditure of $1.3B. Carnegie Mellon University employs 417 Professors, 330 No academic ranks, and 282 Associate professors. Most academics at Carnegie Mellon University are Male Professors (323), Male No academic ranks(214), and Male Associate professors (191).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Carnegie Mellon University are: Computer, Engineering, and Science, with 1193 employees, Business and Financial Operations, with 738 employees, and Management with 570 employees.

Endowment

$2.07B

2020 Endowment

4.3%

growth from 2019

Carnegie Mellon University has an endowment valued at about $2.07B, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The endowment of Carnegie Mellon University grew 4.3% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $1.76B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Carnegie Mellon University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$223M - Federal
$3.69M - State
$0 - Local

As of 2020, Carnegie Mellon University received $223M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $3.69M from state grants and contracts, and $0 from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$706M

2020 Salaries

5.24%

growth from 2019

In 2020, Carnegie Mellon University paid a median of $706M in salaries, which represents 54.3% of their overall expenditure ($1.3B) and a 5.24% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 5.09% growth from 2018 and a 5.19% growth from 2017.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 238M (42.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$156M

Instructional Salaries

1,285

Number of Employees

In 2020, Carnegie Mellon University paid a total of $156M to 1,285 employees working as instructors, which represents 22.1% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $70.3M (29.6%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

417 Employees

Computer, Engineering, and Science

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

1193 Employees

In 2020, the most common positions for instructional staff at Carnegie Mellon University were Professor with 417 employees; No academic rank with 330 employees; and No academic rank with 282 employees.

In 2020, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Carnegie Mellon University were Computer, Engineering, and Science with 1,193 employees; Business and Financial Operations with 738 employees; and Management with 570 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic

Male Professor
Male No academic rank
Male Associate professor

In 2020, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Carnegie Mellon University was Male Professor with 323 employees, Male No academic rank with 214 employees, and Male Associate professor with 191 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Carnegie Mellon University.