Carnegie Mellon vs. William & Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA with William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Carnegie Mellon University is larger than William & Mary based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 9,818 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); William & Mary is in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Carnegie Mellon University 5:1; William & Mary 12:1.

Carnegie Mellon vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carnegie Mellon or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary than Carnegie Mellon ($19,686 vs. $35,552).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William & Mary are 10.9% lower than at Carnegie Mellon University ($16,182 vs. $18,166).
• Carnegie Mellon University is 155.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than William & Mary (about $40,332 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $25,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.8% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at William & Mary (about $15,208 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $51,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carnegie Mellon University than at William & Mary (51% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 107.9% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($48,107 vs. $23,144).

Carnegie Mellon vs. William & Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carnegie Mellon or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary and Carnegie Mellon.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 70 points higher than at William & Mary (1470).
• Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at William & Mary).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570; William & Mary 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Carnegie Mellon University 34/35; William & Mary 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Carnegie Mellon - Test optional; William & Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027; William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at William & Mary (3.85).
• William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate (34.1%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon vs. 26.6% at William & Mary.

Carnegie Mellon vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carnegie Mellon and William & Mary? 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).

• William & Mary's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Carnegie Mellon University's (87%).
• Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $34,000 more per year than William & Mary graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $68,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, William & Mary graduates have a $6,750 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,250).
• Among borrowers, William & Mary graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($201 vs. $271).
• More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William & Mary students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 85%)

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.