Carnegie Mellon vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

Compare Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA with Penn State Wilkes Barre in Dallas, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Carnegie Mellon University is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Carnegie Mellon University 5:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

Carnegie Mellon vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carnegie Mellon or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes Barre than Carnegie Mellon ($16,621 vs. $35,552).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 15.9% lower than at Carnegie Mellon University ($15,274 vs. $18,166).
• Carnegie Mellon University is 363.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $51,966 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 176% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $42,240 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at Carnegie Mellon University (89% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 393.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($48,107 vs. $9,742).

Carnegie Mellon vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carnegie Mellon or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Carnegie Mellon.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 330 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Carnegie Mellon - Test optional; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Carnegie Mellon vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carnegie Mellon and Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $47,400 more per year than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carnegie Mellon University graduates have a $568 lower median loan debt than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($26,250 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Carnegie Mellon graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($271 vs. $277).
• More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 69%)

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.