College comparison

Carnegie Mellon vs Penn

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, PA	Penn Philadelphia, PA
Acceptance rateUniversity of Pennsylvania is more selective	12%	5%
SAT (25–75)	1500–1570	1510–1570
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	7,304	10,650
Avg net price	$31,944	$28,699
Median earnings (10 yr)Carnegie Mellon reports higher median earnings	$114,862	$111,371
Graduation rate	94%	97%
Median debt	$21,750	$15,715
Economic mobility	2.2%	2.1%
Test policy	—	—
Type	Private (nonprofit)	Private (nonprofit)

Quick answers

Is Carnegie Mellon University or University of Pennsylvania harder to get into?

University of Pennsylvania is more selective: Carnegie Mellon University's acceptance rate is approximately 12% and University of Pennsylvania's is approximately 5% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon University vs University of Pennsylvania?

The middle-50% SAT range is 1500–1570 at Carnegie Mellon University and 1510–1570 at University of Pennsylvania. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.