Davidson vs. Carnegie Mellon

Comparable Facts

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

Carnegie Mellon University is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 1,869 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
• Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

Davidson vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Davidson or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Davidson College than Carnegie Mellon ($27,720 vs. $35,552).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 5.9% lower than at Carnegie Mellon University ($17,100 vs. $18,166).
• Carnegie Mellon University is 2.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Davidson (about $1,836 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at Davidson College (about $1,836 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at Carnegie Mellon University (65% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 7.6% larger than aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students ($51,755 vs. $48,107).

Davidson vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Davidson or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon and Davidson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 70 points higher than at Davidson (1470).
• Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Davidson).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 1400/1530; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 31/34; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Davidson - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Davidson (3.81).
• Davidson has a higher acceptance rate (13.4%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

Davidson vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Davidson and Carnegie Mellon? 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).

• Davidson College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Carnegie Mellon University's (87%).
• Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $39,200 more per year than Davidson graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $63,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $9,250 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($17,000 vs. $26,250).
• Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $96 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($175 vs. $271).
• More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Davidson students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 89%)

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.