ONU vs. Carnegie Mellon

Deciding between Ohio Northern University and Carnegie Mellon University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Ohio Northern University
Carnegie Mellon University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ONU Ada, OH
  • Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • ONU Distant Town
  • Carnegie Mellon Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ONU 3,140
  • Carnegie Mellon 15,888
  • Type
  • ONU Private 4 Year
  • Carnegie Mellon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ONU #228
  • Carnegie Mellon #45
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ONU United Methodist
  • Carnegie Mellon -
  • Status
  • ONU Non-profit
  • Carnegie Mellon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ONU
  • Carnegie Mellon
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ONU $39,800
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ONU $39,800
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Room & Board
  • ONU $14,604
  • Carnegie Mellon $18,166
  • Average Net Price
  • ONU $25,941
  • Carnegie Mellon $35,552
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ONU $27,696
  • Carnegie Mellon $48,107
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ONU 97%
  • Carnegie Mellon 51%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ONU 4,640
  • Carnegie Mellon 33,941
  • Admitted
  • ONU 3,452
  • Carnegie Mellon 3,959
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ONU 74.4%
  • Carnegie Mellon 11.7%
  • Enrolled
  • ONU 19.9%
  • Carnegie Mellon 45.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ONU 1290
  • Carnegie Mellon 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • ONU 26
  • Carnegie Mellon 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • ONU 3.78
  • Carnegie Mellon 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ONU A-
  • Carnegie Mellon A
  • Admissions Standards
  • ONU Difficult
  • Carnegie Mellon Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • ONU Low
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • ACT Range
  • ONU 24/29
  • Carnegie Mellon 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • ONU 1175/1400
  • Carnegie Mellon 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ONU Test optional
  • Carnegie Mellon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ONU Aug 15, 2027
  • Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ONU 13:1
  • Carnegie Mellon 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ONU
    • Business (19%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Carnegie Mellon
    • Engineering (26%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ONU 65%
  • Carnegie Mellon 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ONU $71,200
  • Carnegie Mellon $102,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ONU 82%
  • Carnegie Mellon 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ONU $27,000
  • Carnegie Mellon $26,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ONU $279
  • Carnegie Mellon $271
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ONU 53%
  • Carnegie Mellon 57%
  • % Women
  • ONU 47%
  • Carnegie Mellon 43%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ONU Very Low
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • HBCU
  • ONU No
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • % White
  • ONU 84%
  • Carnegie Mellon 32%
  • % Asian
  • ONU 1%
  • Carnegie Mellon 28%
  • % Black
  • ONU 3%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • ONU 1%
  • Carnegie Mellon 8%
  • % Native American
  • ONU 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ONU 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ONU 4%
  • Carnegie Mellon 4%
  • % International
  • ONU 4%
  • Carnegie Mellon 18%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ONU 3%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ONU 85%
  • Carnegie Mellon 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ONU 13%
  • Carnegie Mellon 68%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ONU Yes
  • Carnegie Mellon Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ONU No
  • Carnegie Mellon Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • ONU Yes
  • Carnegie Mellon Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ONU No
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ONU Yes
  • Carnegie Mellon No

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio Northern University in Ada, 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 ONU based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 3,140 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio Northern University is located in Ada, OH (Distant Town setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Ohio Northern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio Northern University 13:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

ONU vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ONU 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 Ohio Northern University than Carnegie Mellon ($25,941 vs. $35,552).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio Northern University are 19.6% lower than at Carnegie Mellon University ($14,604 vs. $18,166).
  • Carnegie Mellon University is 66.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ONU (about $26,446 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $39,800.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 66.4% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at Ohio Northern University (about $26,446 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $39,800.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Northern University than at Carnegie Mellon University (97% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 73.7% larger than aid received by Ohio Northern University students ($48,107 vs. $27,696).

ONU vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ONU 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 ONU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 250 points higher than at ONU (1290).
  • Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 26 at ONU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Northern University 1175/1400; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Northern University 24/29; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ONU - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ONU Aug 15, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at ONU (3.78).
  • ONU has a higher acceptance rate (74.4%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.9% at ONU vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

ONU vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ONU 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).

  • Carnegie Mellon University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Ohio Northern University's (65%).
  • Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $31,500 more per year than ONU graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $71,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Carnegie Mellon University graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than ONU graduates ($26,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Carnegie Mellon graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ONU graduates ($271 vs. $279).
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ONU 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.