Barnard vs. Carnegie Mellon

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY 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 Barnard based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Barnard College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
• Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Barnard College 10:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

Barnard vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard 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 Barnard College than Carnegie Mellon ($26,407 vs. $35,552).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carnegie Mellon University are 16.3% lower than at Barnard College ($18,166 vs. $21,714).
• Barnard College is 5.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carnegie Mellon (about $3,642 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $66,246.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at Barnard than at Carnegie Mellon University (about $3,642 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $66,246.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carnegie Mellon University than at Barnard College (51% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 31.2% larger than aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students ($63,131 vs. $48,107).

Barnard vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard 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 Barnard.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 20 points higher than at Barnard (1520).
• Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Barnard).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Barnard (3.85).
• Carnegie Mellon has a higher acceptance rate (11.7%) than Barnard (8.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

Barnard vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard 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).

• Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Carnegie Mellon University's (87%).
• Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $35,800 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $8,403 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($17,847 vs. $26,250).
• Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $87 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($184 vs. $271).
• More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Barnard students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 89%)

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.