Elon vs. Carnegie Mellon

Should I go to Elon University or Carnegie Mellon University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Elon or Carnegie Mellon 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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Elon University vs. Carnegie Mellon University comparison
Elon University Carnegie Mellon University College 3 College 4
Elon University Carnegie Mellon University
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Overview

Elon Carnegie Mellon
Location Elon, NC Pittsburgh, PA
Setting Small Suburban Large City
Enrollment 7,123 16,002
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #116 #41
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elon.edu cmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Elon Carnegie Mellon
Tuition (In State) $41,734 $59,864
Tuition (Out of State) $41,734 $59,864
Room & Board $13,886 $16,486
Avg Net Price $41,527 $33,499
Avg Grant Aid $13,880 $43,966
% Receiving Grant Aid 68% 47%

Admission

Elon Carnegie Mellon
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,551 34,261
Admitted 13,069 3,873
Acceptance Rate 74.5% 11.3%
Enrolled % 12.9% 44.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.65 3.89
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 25/30 34/35
SAT Range 1170/1360 1490/1570
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 10, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Elon Carnegie Mellon
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 5:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Communication (19%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Engineering (26%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Business (9%)
  • General Studies (8%)

Outcomes

Elon Carnegie Mellon
Graduation Rate 82% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,200 $102,700
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 91%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $26,250
Median Loan Payment $240 $271

Diversity

Elon Carnegie Mellon
% Men 40% 56%
% Women 60% 44%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 82% 32%
% Black 6% 5%
% Hispanic 5% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 2% 18%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

Elon Carnegie Mellon
% In-State 18% 11%
% Out-of-State 80% 69%

Campus

Elon Carnegie Mellon
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No 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 Elon based on total student enrollment (16,002 students vs. 7,123 students)

Elon vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elon or Carnegie Mellon?

  • Carnegie Mellon University is 43.4% more expensive to attend than Elon for in-state tuition ($59,864.00 vs. $41,734.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 43.4% higher at Carnegie Mellon than Elon University ($59,864.00 vs. $41,734.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carnegie Mellon University than Elon ($33,499 vs. $41,527)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elon University are 18.7% lower than costs at Carnegie Mellon University ($13,886 vs. $16,486)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Elon University than Carnegie Mellon University (68% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 216.8% larger than aid received Elon University ($43,966 vs. $13,880)

Elon vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Carnegie Mellon University (1448) is 237 points higher than at Elon (1211)
  • Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Elon (27)
  • Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Elon (3.65)
  • Elon has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.3%)

Elon vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Carnegie Mellon is higher than Elon University (87% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn on average $46,500 more per year than Elon graduates after ten years. ($102,700 vs. $56,200)
  • Elon University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates. ($23,250 vs. $26,250)
  • Elon graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Carnegie Mellon graduates. ($240 vs. $271)
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elon students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 86%)

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