Carnegie Mellon University

www.cmu.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$57,560

2021 Average Net Price

$37,450

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

0.164%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

13.5%

32,896 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

15,057

93.4% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

92.8%

1,451 Graduates

About

Carnegie Mellon University is a higher education institution located in Allegheny County, PA. In 2021, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Carnegie Mellon University were Information Technology (438 degrees awarded), Electrical & Electronics Engineering (341 degrees), and Management Science (272 degrees).

In 2021, 5,381 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Carnegie Mellon University. 43% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 57% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,203 degrees), 1.29 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (930 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Carnegie Mellon University is $57,560, which is $28,568 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

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

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Carnegie Mellon University is $57,560, which is $28,568 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $37,450.

In 2021, 51% of undergraduate students attending Carnegie Mellon University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 38% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$57,560

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Carnegie Mellon University was $57,560. The cost of tuition at Carnegie Mellon University is $28,568 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

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

Average Net Price

$37,450

2021 Value

1.26%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Carnegie Mellon University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $37,450. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Carnegie Mellon University grew by 1.26%.

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

$15,145

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Carnegie Mellon University was of $15,145 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 3.97% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. 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

38%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

51% of undergraduate students at Carnegie Mellon University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2020, 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.

0.164%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Carnegie Mellon University was 0.164%, which represents 2 out of the 1220 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 32,896 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 25.6% annual growth. Out of those 32,896 applicants, 4,453 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 13.5% acceptance rate.

There were 15,057 students enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University in 2021. 48% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Carnegie Mellon University has an overall enrollment yield of 42.6%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

13.5%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

4,453

Accepted Out of 32,896

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Carnegie Mellon University was 13.5% (4,453 admissions from 32,896 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 17.3%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 25.6%, while admissions declined by −1.57%..

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Carnegie Mellon University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

48%

Submission Percentage (2021)

905

Scores Submitted (2021)

48% of enrolled first-time students at Carnegie Mellon University in 2021 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 had a total enrollment of 15,057 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Carnegie Mellon University is 14,069 students and the part-time enrollment is 988. This means that 93.4% of students enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Carnegie Mellon University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 21.3% White, 20.6% Asian, 5.88% Hispanic or Latino, 3.06% Black or African American, 3.02% Two or More Races, 0.0465% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0332% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Asian Female (19.3%), followed by Asian Male (14.3%) and White Male (12.6%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Male (10.6%), followed by White Female (6.17%) and Asian Male (5.16%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

93.4%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Carnegie Mellon University in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 15,057 students. The full-time enrollment at Carnegie Mellon University is 14,069 and the part-time enrollment is 988. This means that 93.4% of students enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University are enrolled full-time compared with 76.6% 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

97%

2021 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 97%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), 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 (2021)

White
3,210 enrolled students
Asian
3,108 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
885 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Carnegie Mellon University is 21.3% White, 20.6% Asian, 5.88% Hispanic or Latino, 3.06% Black or African American, 3.02% Two or More Races, 0.0465% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0332% 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 48.9% White, 15.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.56% 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, 900 students (5.98%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 751 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 (1,203 degrees awarded). There were 1.29 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (930 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Carnegie Mellon University is Information Technology (438 degrees awarded), followed by Electrical & Electronics Engineering (341 degrees) and Management Science (272 degrees).

In 2021, 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 (1,592 degrees awarded), Math & Statistics (353 degrees), and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (1,386 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 (944,501 people), Other managers (476,745 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (385,624 people), Civil engineers (275,294 people), and Postsecondary teachers (224,750 people).

The most specialized majors at Carnegie Mellon University in 2021 are Engineering (1,592 degrees awarded), Math & Statistics (353 degrees), Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (1,386 degrees), Physical Sciences (226 degrees), and Architecture and Related Services (74 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Podiatrists

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 Podiatrists, Surgeons, Physicians, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at Carnegie Mellon University are Engineering (1,592 degrees awarded), Math & Statistics (353 degrees), Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (1,386 degrees), Physical Sciences (226 degrees), and Architecture and Related Services (74 degrees) (as of 2021).

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 (1,032,998 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (610,486 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (433,917 people), Construction (346,508 people), and Elementary & secondary schools (274,100 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 (2021)

Information Technology
438 degree-majors awarded
Electrical & Electronics Engineering
341 degree-majors awarded
Management Science
272 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common masters degree concentration at Carnegie Mellon University was Information Technology with 438 degrees awarded.

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

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

3,066

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

2,315

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 3,066 degrees were awarded to men at Carnegie Mellon University, which is 1.32 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,315).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 377 degrees were awarded to men at Carnegie Mellon University in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, which is 2.2 times more than the 171 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 240 degrees were awarded to men at Carnegie Mellon University in Information Technology, which is 0.941 times less than the 255 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

76%

100% Completion Time

90%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 76% of students graduating from Carnegie Mellon University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 90% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 92% 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 in 2021 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 (72.9%).

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, 4.82% of graduates (70 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
1,203 degrees awarded
Asian
930 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
231 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Carnegie Mellon University is white (1,203 degrees awarded). There were 1.29 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (930 degrees).

4.29% of degree recipients (231 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Male
730 degrees awarded
Asian Female
491 degrees awarded
White Female
473 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Carnegie Mellon University is white male (730 degrees awarded). There were 1.49 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian female (491 degrees).

Operations

Carnegie Mellon University has an endowment valued at nearly $3.09B, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 1.13B (36.6%) compared to the 10.4% average return (40.5M on 388M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2021, Carnegie Mellon University had a total salary expenditure of 1.23B. Carnegie Mellon University employs 415 Professors, 350 No academic ranks and 291 Associate professors. Most academics at Carnegie Mellon University are Male Professor (319), Male No academic rank (228), and Male Associate professor (199).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Carnegie Mellon University are: Computer, Engineering, and Science, with 1,161 employees, Business and Financial Operations, with 800 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 446 employees.

Endowment

$3.09B

2021 Endowment

49.5%

growth from 2020

Carnegie Mellon University has an endowment valued at about $3.09B, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Carnegie Mellon University grew 49.5% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $2.7B 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

$255M - Federal
$4.61M - State
$1.04M - Local

As of 2021, Carnegie Mellon University received $255M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $4.61M from state grants and contracts, and $1.04M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$696M

2021 Salaries

1.36%

decline from 2020

In 2021, Carnegie Mellon University paid a median of $696M in salaries, which represents 56.4% of their overall expenditure ($1.23B) and a 1.36% decline from the previous year.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 234M (42.8% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$161M

Instructional Salaries

1,309

Number of Employees

In 2021, Carnegie Mellon University paid a total of $161M to 1,309 employees working as instructors, which represents 23.1% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $71M (30.3%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

415 Employees

Computer, Engineering, and Science

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

1,161 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Carnegie Mellon University were Professor with 415 employees, No academic rank with 350 employees, and Associate professor with 291 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Carnegie Mellon University were Computer, Engineering, and Science with 1,161 employees, Business and Financial Operations with 800 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 446 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Male Professor
Male No academic rank
Male Associate professor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Carnegie Mellon University was Male Professor with 319 employees, Male No academic rank with 228 employees, and Male Associate professor with 199 employees.

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