Carnegie Mellon vs Penn

Penn is harder to get into (4.9% vs 11% admitted), and students with aid paid less there on average: $29,577 vs $35,780 a year. For fall 2027, Carnegie Mellon requires scores from some applicants; Penn needs the SAT or ACT. Carnegie Mellon is due first, on Jan 4.

Highlighted = the better number: lower price or debt, higher rate or pay.

Carnegie Mellon University University of Pennsylvania

Getting in
Measure	Carnegie Mellon University	University of Pennsylvania
Admit rate	11%	4.9%
SAT, enrolled first-years (middle 50%)	1500–1560	1510–1570
ACT, enrolled first-years (middle 50%)	34–36	34–36
SAT or ACT for fall 2027	Required for some	Required
Next deadline	Regular decision: Jan 4	Regular decision: Jan 5

Cost
Measure	Carnegie Mellon University	University of Pennsylvania
Sticker price per year	$86,759	$92,288
Average paid after grants	$35,780	$29,577

What families with aid paid, by income
Measure	Carnegie Mellon University	University of Pennsylvania
Under $30,000	$14,468	—
$30,000–$48,000	$4,293	$234
$48,000–$75,000	$17,816	$12,421
$75,000–$110,000	$24,455	$25,263
Over $110,000	$56,003	$61,455

After you start
Measure	Carnegie Mellon University	University of Pennsylvania
Undergrads	7,304	10,650
Graduate within 6 years	93%	97%
Come back for year two	98%	99%
Median earnings 10 years after starting	$125,257	$121,687
Median debt at graduation	$19,000	$15,000

Highlighted only when the gap is at least 5%. "Average paid" is what students who got federal aid paid per year after grants, not a price quote. How we get our numbers

See Carnegie Mellon See Penn