Oberlin vs. Carnegie Mellon

Comparable Facts

Compare Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH 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 Oberlin based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Oberlin College is located in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
• Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Oberlin College 9:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

Oberlin vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oberlin 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 Carnegie Mellon University than Oberlin ($35,552 vs. $51,624).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carnegie Mellon University are 6.9% lower than at Oberlin College ($18,166 vs. $19,510).
• Oberlin College is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carnegie Mellon (about $1,120 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $66,246.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at Oberlin than at Carnegie Mellon University (about $1,120 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $66,246.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Carnegie Mellon University (99% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 34.5% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($48,107 vs. $35,780).

Oberlin vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oberlin 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 Oberlin.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 100 points higher than at Oberlin (1440).
• Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Oberlin).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 1360/1520; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 31/34; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oberlin - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
• Oberlin has a higher acceptance rate (34.2%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Oberlin vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

Oberlin vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oberlin 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).

• Oberlin College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Carnegie Mellon University's (87%).
• Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $58,800 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carnegie Mellon University graduates have a $329 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($26,250 vs. $26,579).
• Among borrowers, Carnegie Mellon graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($271 vs. $274).
• More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oberlin students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 82%)

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.