Wooster vs. Carnegie Mellon

Comparable Facts

Compare The College of Wooster in Wooster, 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 Wooster based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 1,738 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• The College of Wooster is located in Wooster, OH (Distant Town setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
• The College of Wooster is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The College of Wooster 10:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

Wooster vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wooster 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 The College of Wooster than Carnegie Mellon ($28,004 vs. $35,552).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of Wooster are 20.2% lower than at Carnegie Mellon University ($14,490 vs. $18,166).
• Carnegie Mellon University is 7.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wooster (about $4,606 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $61,640.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.5% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at The College of Wooster (about $4,606 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $61,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The College of Wooster than at Carnegie Mellon University (100% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 0.9% larger than aid received by The College of Wooster students ($48,107 vs. $47,672).

Wooster vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wooster 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 Wooster.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 200 points higher than at Wooster (1340).
• Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Wooster).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of Wooster 1220/1460; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of Wooster 27/33; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wooster - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wooster Feb 15, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Wooster (3.76).
• Wooster has a higher acceptance rate (59.5%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.4% at Wooster vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

Wooster vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wooster 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 The College of Wooster's (75%).
• Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $51,500 more per year than Wooster graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $51,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The College of Wooster graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,250).
• Among borrowers, Wooster graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($268 vs. $271).
• More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wooster students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 76%)

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.