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Is Carnegie Mellon University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Carnegie Mellon, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Affordable
Carnegie Mellon lands in the affordable band for a typical family. Graduates earn a median of $114,862 ten years after enrolling, and that makes the median debt of $21,750 more manageable than it looks at first glance. For context, Carnegie Mellon's net price runs about 44% above the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. On the numbers alone, this school clears the bar comfortably.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$32,964
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $10,127 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $41,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
Graduation and earnings data create a stronger long-run payoff picture.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$31,944
Median earnings 10 years out
$114,862
Median debt at graduation
$21,750
Graduation rate
93%
At Carnegie Mellon, a typical graduate carries about $21,750 in student debt and earns roughly $114,862 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $247 per month, or 3% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Carnegie Mellon is a private nonprofit four year school in Pittsburgh, PA. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
Bryn Mawr
Bryn Mawr, PA
Worth-It Score: 72/100
Median net price: $31,759
Private nonprofit 4-year
DeSales
Center Valley, PA
Worth-It Score: 56/100
Median net price: $31,643
Private nonprofit 4-year
University of Valley Forge
Phoenixville, PA
Worth-It Score: 23/100
Median net price: $32,265
Private nonprofit 4-year
Gettysburg
Gettysburg, PA
Worth-It Score: 70/100
Median net price: $31,490
Private nonprofit 4-year
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA
Worth-It Score: 70/100
Median net price: $32,568
Common questions about Carnegie Mellon
The median net price at Carnegie Mellon is $31,944 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in Pennsylvania? See the most affordable private colleges in Pennsylvania →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →