Head-to-head comparison
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus vs Carnegie Mellon University: which has better ROI?
Option A Pittsburgh, PA
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
- Net price / year
- $30,434
- Earnings, 10 years
- $66,125
- Payback
- 6.9 yrs
Option B Pittsburgh, PA
Carnegie Mellon University
- Net price / year
- $31,944
- Earnings, 10 years
- $114,862
- Payback
- 1.9 yrs
Carnegie Mellon University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $127,776 in 1.9 years versus 6.9 years at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, on median earnings of $114,862 vs $66,125 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | Carnegie Mellon University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,434 | $31,944 |
| Total net cost | $121,736 | $127,776 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $66,125 | $114,862 |
| Median debt | $24,250 | $21,750 |
| Payback | 6.9 yrs | 1.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $233,564 | $1,202,264 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus or Carnegie Mellon University?
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, at $30,434 a year after aid versus $31,944 — a gap of $1,510 a year, or $6,040 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 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus or Carnegie Mellon University graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon University graduates report a median $114,862 ten years after entry, $48,737 more than the $66,125 at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus. 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, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus or Carnegie Mellon University?
Carnegie Mellon University: its completers carry a median $21,750 in federal loans versus $24,250 at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, a difference of $2,500. 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 86% at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus. 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.