Carnegie Mellon University tuition, cost & net price

The sticker price at Carnegie Mellon University is $83,654 a year. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $31,944 on average, and what your family pays depends mostly on income. Choose yours below.

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What your family pays
$31,944 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $83,654. College Scorecard.

Net price by family income

Average after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard, latest reported year

Sticker price, line by line

Per year, living on campusAll students
Tuition & fees$66,246
Housing & meals$17,468
Books & supplies$1,000
Personal & travel$1,400
Living-at-home adjustment−$2,460
Total cost of attendance$83,654

Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two.

Debt after graduation

Median federal loan debt$20,250
Loan default rate0.7%3-year rate, 2017 repayment cohort
Debt as a share of earnings 10 years out18%

College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal

Who gets aid

Students with Pell Grants16%Federal grants for lower-income students
Grants for the average aided student$51,710Sticker price minus average net price

State aid: Pennsylvania residents with financial need may receive a PA State Grant: up to $6,000 a year in 2026-27 at approved colleges, depending on need and the college. Not included in the prices above. Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), PA State Grant

College Scorecard

Carnegie Mellon University net price compared with other Pennsylvania colleges

Carnegie Mellon University has the 100th-lowest average net price of 114 Pennsylvania colleges we cover. Schools around it:

RankCollegeAvg. net priceGraduationEarnings, 10 yrs
96Moravian University$30,67072%$61,860
97Gettysburg College$31,49083%$71,517
98DeSales University$31,64372%$61,295
99Bryn Mawr College$31,75982%$75,217
100Carnegie Mellon University$31,94494%$114,862
101University of Valley Forge$32,26549%$39,016
102University of Scranton$32,56880%$74,652
103Pennsylvania State University$32,87586%$63,435
104Lafayette College$34,43388%$91,410

College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All Pennsylvania colleges →

Why Carnegie Mellon University costs more or less than similar schools

SchoolAcceptanceYou'd payGraduationEarnings, 10 yrsPrice gap
Carnegie Mellon University12%$31,94494%$114,862This school
Villanova University27%$43,75692%$100,423
University of Pennsylvania5%$28,69997%$111,371
Lehigh University26%$36,93188%$105,584
Haverford College12%$25,31490%$79,966

College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.

Why the price is different

Carnegie Mellon University would cost you $11,812 less per year than Villanova University, on average.

  • Lower sticker price at Carnegie Mellon University, mostly from lower tuition & fees (−$1,530).
  • Carnegie Mellon University gives aided families $10,673 more in grants, on average.
Per year, Pennsylvania residentCarnegie Mellon UniversityVillanova UniversityDifference
Tuition & fees$66,246$67,776−$1,530
Books & supplies$1,000$1,100−$100
Housing & meals$17,468$16,896+$572
Personal & travel$1,400$2,300−$900
Living-at-home adjustment−$2,460−$3,279+$819
Sticker price$83,654$84,793−$1,139
Average grants−$51,710−$41,037−$10,673
You pay$31,944$43,756−$11,812

“+” means Carnegie Mellon University costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.

Carnegie Mellon University cost questions

How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon University?

Tuition and fees are $66,246 a year.

What is the total cost of attending Carnegie Mellon University?

The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $83,654 a year.

What do families actually pay at Carnegie Mellon University?

After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $31,944 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $9,097; $48–75k pay $14,468; $110k+ pay $51,480.

How much debt do Carnegie Mellon University graduates have?

The median federal loan debt at graduation is $20,250, and 0.7% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).

Is Carnegie Mellon University the right fit for your family?

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Carnegie Mellon University overview