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George Washington NYU Johns Hopkins Case Western Cornell Georgetown Emory Penn Duke Fordham WUSTL Swarthmore| American University | Carnegie Mellon University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
AU | Carnegie Mellon | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Pittsburgh, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 13,885 | 16,002 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #93 | #41 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | cmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | Carnegie Mellon | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,070 | $59,864 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,070 | $59,864 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,706 | $16,486 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $41,369 | $33,499 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,138 | $43,966 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 66% | 47% |
Admission |
AU | Carnegie Mellon | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,510 | 34,261 | ||
| Admitted | 7,926 | 3,873 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 40.6% | 11.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.2% | 44.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.89 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 34/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1290/1430 | 1490/1570 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2025 | Jan 1, 2025 |
Academics |
AU | Carnegie Mellon | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 5:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
AU | Carnegie Mellon | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $102,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 91% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $26,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $271 |
Diversity |
AU | Carnegie Mellon | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 56% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 44% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 32% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 18% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 5% |
Students |
AU | Carnegie Mellon | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 11% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 69% | ||
Campus |
AU | Carnegie Mellon | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Carnegie Mellon University is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (16,002 students vs. 13,885 students)
AU vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or Carnegie Mellon?
- Carnegie Mellon University is 12.8% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($59,864.00 vs. $53,070.00)
- Out of state tuition is 12.8% higher at Carnegie Mellon than American University ($59,864.00 vs. $53,070.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carnegie Mellon University than AU ($33,499 vs. $41,369)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 5% lower than costs at Carnegie Mellon University ($15,706 vs. $16,486)
- More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Carnegie Mellon University (66% vs. 47%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 62% larger than aid received American University ($43,966 vs. $27,138)
AU vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or Carnegie Mellon? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Carnegie Mellon or AU .
- The average SAT score at Carnegie Mellon University (1448) is 196 points higher than at AU (1252)
- Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at AU (28)
- Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at AU (3.7)
- AU has a higher acceptance rate (40.6%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.3%)
AU vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or Carnegie Mellon? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Carnegie Mellon and AU.
- The graduation rate at Carnegie Mellon is higher than American University (87% vs. 77%)
- Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn on average $37,900 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($102,700 vs. $64,800)
- American University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,250)
- AU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Carnegie Mellon graduates. ($250 vs. $271)
- More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/