Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Lehigh Bucknell Villanova NYU Johns Hopkins Case Western Cornell Fordham Emory Union College Skidmore College Colgate| Carnegie Mellon University | Lafayette College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Carnegie Mellon | Lafayette College | ||
| Location | Pittsburgh, PA | Easton, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 16,002 | 2,729 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #41 | #65 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cmu.edu | lafayette.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Carnegie Mellon | Lafayette College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $59,864 | $58,110 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $59,864 | $58,110 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,486 | $17,336 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,499 | $37,186 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $43,966 | $24,981 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 47% | 98% |
Admission |
Carnegie Mellon | Lafayette College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 34,261 | 10,500 | ||
| Admitted | 3,873 | 3,531 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 11.3% | 33.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 44.3% | 21.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.89 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | High | ||
| ACT Range | 34/35 | 30/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1490/1570 | 1330/1480 | ||
| 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 1, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Carnegie Mellon | Lafayette College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 5:1 | 10:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Carnegie Mellon | Lafayette College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 88% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $102,700 | $81,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 91% | 91% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,250 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $271 | $268 |
Diversity |
Carnegie Mellon | Lafayette College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 56% | 50% | ||
| % Women | 44% | 50% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 32% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 18% | 9% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 7% |
Students |
Carnegie Mellon | Lafayette College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 11% | 16% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 76% | ||
Campus |
Carnegie Mellon | Lafayette College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Carnegie Mellon University is larger than than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (16,002 students vs. 2,729 students)
Carnegie Mellon vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Carnegie Mellon or Lafayette College?
- Carnegie Mellon University is 3% more expensive to attend than Lafayette College for in-state tuition ($59,864.00 vs. $58,110.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3% higher at Carnegie Mellon than Lafayette College ($59,864.00 vs. $58,110.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carnegie Mellon University than Lafayette College ($33,499 vs. $37,186)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carnegie Mellon University are 5.2% lower than costs at Lafayette College ($16,486 vs. $17,336)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Lafayette College than Carnegie Mellon University (98% vs. 47%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 76% larger than aid received Lafayette College ($43,966 vs. $24,981)
Carnegie Mellon vs. Lafayette College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Carnegie Mellon or Lafayette College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Lafayette College or Carnegie Mellon .
- The average SAT score at Carnegie Mellon University (1448) is 154 points higher than at Lafayette College (1294)
- Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Lafayette College (29)
- Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Lafayette College (3.53)
- Lafayette College has a higher acceptance rate (33.6%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.3%)
Carnegie Mellon vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Carnegie Mellon or Lafayette College? 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 Lafayette College and Carnegie Mellon.
- The graduation rate at Lafayette College is higher than Carnegie Mellon University (88% vs. 87%)
- Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn on average $21,700 more per year than Lafayette College graduates after ten years. ($102,700 vs. $81,000)
- Lafayette College students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates. ($26,000 vs. $26,250)
- Lafayette College graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Carnegie Mellon graduates. ($268 vs. $271)
- More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lafayette College students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 91%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/