Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Carnegie Mellon University at a Glance
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The institution was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools. In 1912, it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology and began granting four-year degrees. In 1967, it became Carnegie Mellon University through its merger with the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research, founded in 1913 by Andrew Mellon and Richard B. Mellon and formerly a part of the Unive…
1900
126 years old
$4.3B
$4.29 billion (2025)
16,676
7,744 undergrad · 8,932 grad
1,483
2 acres
Identity
Is Carnegie Mellon University Worth It?
Carnegie Mellon University is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $31,944/year net price and $114,862 median earnings, graduates earn 3.6× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 93% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Admission is competitive with a 12% acceptance rate, so applicants should have strong academic credentials.
Median student debt of $21,750 is manageable at just 19% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: Carnegie Mellon University delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Carnegie Mellon University compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #15 of 20 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Yale University | 100 | $23,777 | $100,533 |
| #2 | University of Chicago | 100 | $14,860 | $91,885 |
| #3 | Johns Hopkins University | 100 | $18,809 | $87,555 |
| #4 | Harvard University | 100 | $19,066 | $101,817 |
| #5 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 100 | $20,111 | $143,372 |
| #6 | Princeton University | 100 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| #15 | Carnegie Mellon University | 84 | $31,944 | $114,862 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Carnegie Mellon University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in PA.
Best Programs at Carnegie Mellon University
The highest-earning program at Carnegie Mellon University is Computer Science at $138,900/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $24,400/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from Carnegie Mellon University earns $138,900, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $24,400. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Science graduates carry $20,510 in median debt vs. $27,000 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $31,944/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $138,900 | $138,900 | $20,510 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $99,000 | $99,000 | $23,771 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $91,500 | $91,500 | N/A |
| Design and Applied Arts | $87,900 | $87,900 | $23,000 |
| Systems Science and Theory | $81,400 | $81,400 | $22,276 |
| Statistics | $79,700 | $79,700 | $17,875 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $76,800 | $76,800 | $24,443 |
| Chemical Engineering | $73,100 | $73,100 | $27,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $70,400 | $70,400 | $23,875 |
| Economics | $62,300 | $62,300 | $22,638 |
| Materials Sciences | $60,400 | $60,400 | $20,665 |
| Civil Engineering | $60,200 | $60,200 | $19,393 |
| Architecture | $53,700 | $53,700 | $30,875 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $44,000 | $44,000 | $23,250 |
| Psychology, General | $30,700 | $30,700 | $27,000 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $24,400 | $24,400 | $27,000 |
Similar Colleges in PA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Student Body
- 7,304 students
- Admission Rate
- 12%
- Graduation Rate
- 93%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $31,944
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $114,862
- Median Student Debt
- $21,750