Location
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Southern California
- Los Angeles, CA
Carnegie Mellon University vs University of Southern California
Pittsburgh, PA · Los Angeles, CA · largest Scorecard gap: median earnings (6 yr)
Scorecard match plate
Pair PA:CA
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-PAR · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-EARN
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE PA × CA
- ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
- NET-PAR Net near-par
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-EARN Largest gap · Median Earnings (6 yr)
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the ENROLL-RACE · single · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Both enrollments grew, different paces
ENROLL-RACE · single · 2013–2023
Undergraduate headcount rose at both Carnegie Mellon University and University of Southern California across 2013–2023 on similar paces, while acceptance rates tightened on both sides, a growth-under-squeeze pattern rather than a pure size race.
- Carnegie Mellon University: enrollment grew +23.2% over 2013–2023; fitted +137 students/yr fitted, r² 0.97.
- University of Southern California: enrollment grew +15.1% over 2013–2023; fitted +285 students/yr fitted, r² 0.94.
- Carnegie Mellon University: acceptance rate tightened -55.3% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.95).
- University of Southern California: acceptance rate tightened -49.5% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.80).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Carnegie Mellon University
- $105,360
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Carnegie Mellon University
- $114,862
Median Debt at Graduation
- Carnegie Mellon University
- $21,750
Acceptance Rate
Loan Repayment Rate (Completers)
In-State Tuition
- Carnegie Mellon University
- $66,246
Out-of-State Tuition
- Carnegie Mellon University
- $66,246
SAT Average
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Pittsburgh, PA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 7,304 | 20,443 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $105,360 | $74,461 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $114,862 | $92,498 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $21,750 | $18,000 |
| Acceptance Rate | 11.7% | 9.8% |
| Loan Repayment Rate (Completers) | 95.0% | 83.9% |
| In-State Tuition | $66,246 | $72,097 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $66,246 | $72,097 |
| SAT Average | 1,546 | 1,495 |
Largest gaps: Carnegie Mellon University vs University of Southern California
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 Carnegie Mellon University leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($105,360 vs $74,461 at University of Southern California)
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(1 Carnegie Mellon University leads on median earnings (10 yr) ($114,862 vs $92,498 at University of Southern California)
- MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA University of Southern California leads on median debt at graduation ($18,000 vs $21,750 at Carnegie Mellon University)
Carnegie Mellon University profile · University of Southern California profile · Compare other colleges
Median Earnings (6 yr) and other Scorecard questions
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between Carnegie Mellon University and University of Southern California?▼
Carnegie Mellon University leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $105,360 versus $74,461 at University of Southern California. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (10 yr), who leads between Carnegie Mellon University and University of Southern California?▼
Carnegie Mellon University leads on median earnings (10 yr) at $114,862 versus $92,498 at University of Southern California. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median debt at graduation, who leads between Carnegie Mellon University and University of Southern California?▼
University of Southern California leads on median debt at graduation at $18,000 versus $21,750 at Carnegie Mellon University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); median earnings (6 yr) focus for this pair · 2025