Carnegie Mellon vs. WCU

Should I go to Carnegie Mellon University or West Chester University of Pennsylvania? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Carnegie Mellon or WCU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Carnegie Mellon University vs. West Chester University of Pennsylvania comparison
Carnegie Mellon University West Chester University of Pennsylvania College 3 College 4
Carnegie Mellon University West Chester University of Pennsylvania
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Overview

 Carnegie Mellon WCU
Location Pittsburgh, PA West Chester, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 15,596 17,076
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #43 #532
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cmu.edu wcupa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Carnegie Mellon WCU
Tuition (In State) $62,260 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $62,260 $19,290
Room & Board $17,468 $12,474
Avg Net Price $32,964 $21,684
Avg Grant Aid $47,550 $5,503
% Receiving Grant Aid 49% 70%

Admission

 Carnegie Mellon WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 33,707 16,467
Admitted 3,843 13,042
Acceptance Rate 11.4% 79.2%
Enrolled % 44.4% 23.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.43
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Challenging
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 34/35 24/28
SAT Range 1500/1570 1100/1270
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, 2026

Academics

 Carnegie Mellon WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 5:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (26%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Business (9%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)

Outcomes

 Carnegie Mellon WCU
Graduation Rate 87% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $102,700 $49,000
Making Student Loan Payments 91% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,250 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $271 $242

Diversity

 Carnegie Mellon WCU
% Men 32% 5%
% Women 21% 11%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 32% 78%
% Black 5% 11%
% Hispanic 8% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 18% 0%
% Unknown Race 5% 0%

Students

 Carnegie Mellon WCU
% In-State 9% 87%
% Out-of-State 71% 13%

Campus

 Carnegie Mellon WCU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than than Carnegie Mellon based on total student enrollment (17,076 students vs. 15,596 students)

Carnegie Mellon vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carnegie Mellon or WCU?

  • Carnegie Mellon University is 706.9% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($62,260.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 222.8% higher at Carnegie Mellon than West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($62,260.00 vs. $19,290.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than Carnegie Mellon ($21,684 vs. $32,964)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are 40% lower than costs at Carnegie Mellon University ($12,474 vs. $17,468)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than Carnegie Mellon University (70% vs. 49%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 764.1% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($47,550 vs. $5,503)

Carnegie Mellon vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carnegie Mellon or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or Carnegie Mellon .

  • The average SAT score at Carnegie Mellon University (1448) is 376 points higher than at WCU (1072)
  • Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 9 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at WCU (24)
  • Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at WCU (3.43)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.4%)

Carnegie Mellon vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Carnegie Mellon or WCU? 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 WCU and Carnegie Mellon.

  • The graduation rate at Carnegie Mellon is higher than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (87% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn on average $53,700 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($102,700 vs. $49,000)
  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates. ($23,500 vs. $26,250)
  • WCU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Carnegie Mellon graduates. ($242 vs. $271)
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/