Head-to-head comparison
Carnegie Mellon University vs Swarthmore College: which has better ROI?
Option A Pittsburgh, PA
Carnegie Mellon University
- Net price / year
- $31,944
- Earnings, 10 years
- $114,862
- Payback
- 1.9 yrs
Option B Swarthmore, PA
Swarthmore College
- Net price / year
- $23,149
- Earnings, 10 years
- $80,257
- Payback
- 2.9 yrs
Carnegie Mellon University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $127,776 in 1.9 years versus 2.9 years at Swarthmore College, on median earnings of $114,862 vs $80,257 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carnegie Mellon University | Swarthmore College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,944 | $23,149 |
| Total net cost | $127,776 | $92,596 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $114,862 | $80,257 |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $17,500 |
| Payback | 1.9 yrs | 2.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $1,202,264 | $545,344 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Carnegie Mellon University or Swarthmore College?
Swarthmore College, at $23,149 a year after aid versus $31,944 — a gap of $8,795 a year, or $35,180 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Carnegie Mellon University or Swarthmore College graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon University graduates report a median $114,862 ten years after entry, $34,605 more than the $80,257 at Swarthmore College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Carnegie Mellon University or Swarthmore College?
Swarthmore College: its completers carry a median $17,500 in federal loans versus $21,750 at Carnegie Mellon University, a difference of $4,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
94% of students finish at Carnegie Mellon University, against 92% at Swarthmore College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.