Carnegie Mellon vs. F&M

Deciding between Carnegie Mellon University and Franklin and Marshall College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Carnegie Mellon University
Franklin and Marshall College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, PA
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Setting
  • Carnegie Mellon Large City
  • F&M Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Carnegie Mellon 15,888
  • F&M 1,808
  • Type
  • Carnegie Mellon Private 4 Year
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Carnegie Mellon #45
  • F&M #60
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Carnegie Mellon -
  • F&M -
  • Status
  • Carnegie Mellon Non-profit
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Carnegie Mellon
  • F&M

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • F&M $70,794
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • F&M $70,794
  • Room & Board
  • Carnegie Mellon $18,166
  • F&M $16,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Carnegie Mellon $35,552
  • F&M $43,987
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Carnegie Mellon $48,107
  • F&M $41,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Carnegie Mellon 51%
  • F&M 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Carnegie Mellon 33,941
  • F&M 9,881
  • Admitted
  • Carnegie Mellon 3,959
  • F&M 2,785
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Carnegie Mellon 11.7%
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Carnegie Mellon 45.7%
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Carnegie Mellon 1540
  • F&M 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Carnegie Mellon 34
  • F&M 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Carnegie Mellon 3.89
  • F&M -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Carnegie Mellon A
  • F&M -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Carnegie Mellon Elite
  • F&M Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • F&M High
  • ACT Range
  • Carnegie Mellon 34/35
  • F&M 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Carnegie Mellon 1500/1570
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Carnegie Mellon Test optional
  • F&M Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Carnegie Mellon 5:1
  • F&M 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Carnegie Mellon
    • Engineering (26%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Carnegie Mellon 87%
  • F&M 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Carnegie Mellon $102,700
  • F&M $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Carnegie Mellon 91%
  • F&M 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Carnegie Mellon $26,250
  • F&M $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Carnegie Mellon $271
  • F&M $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Carnegie Mellon 57%
  • F&M 49%
  • % Women
  • Carnegie Mellon 43%
  • F&M 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • F&M High
  • HBCU
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • F&M No
  • % White
  • Carnegie Mellon 32%
  • F&M 59%
  • % Asian
  • Carnegie Mellon 28%
  • F&M 5%
  • % Black
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • F&M 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Carnegie Mellon 8%
  • F&M 8%
  • % Native American
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Carnegie Mellon 4%
  • F&M 2%
  • % International
  • Carnegie Mellon 18%
  • F&M 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • F&M 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Carnegie Mellon 9%
  • F&M 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Carnegie Mellon 68%
  • F&M 55%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Carnegie Mellon Yes
  • F&M Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Carnegie Mellon Yes
  • F&M No
  • Meal Plan
  • Carnegie Mellon Yes
  • F&M Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • F&M No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • F&M No

Comparable Facts

Compare Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA with Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Carnegie Mellon University is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); Franklin and Marshall College is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
  • Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Carnegie Mellon University 5:1; Franklin and Marshall College 9:1.

Carnegie Mellon vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carnegie Mellon or F&M? 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 Carnegie Mellon University than F&M ($35,552 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 10.9% lower than at Carnegie Mellon University ($16,188 vs. $18,166).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 6.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carnegie Mellon (about $4,548 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $66,246.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.9% higher at F&M than at Carnegie Mellon University (about $4,548 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $66,246.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at Carnegie Mellon University (80% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 14.8% larger than aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students ($48,107 vs. $41,901).

Carnegie Mellon vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carnegie Mellon or F&M? 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 F&M and Carnegie Mellon.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 150 points higher than at F&M (1390).
  • Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at F&M).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570; Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Carnegie Mellon University 34/35; Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Carnegie Mellon - Test optional; F&M - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027; F&M Jan 15, 2027.
  • F&M has a higher acceptance rate (28.2%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon vs. 17.1% at F&M.

Carnegie Mellon vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carnegie Mellon and F&M? 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).

  • Carnegie Mellon University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Franklin and Marshall College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $40,800 more per year than F&M graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($22,000 vs. $26,250).
  • Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($227 vs. $271).
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former F&M students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 88%)

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.