Community College of Allegheny County vs Carnegie Mellon University: which has better ROI?
Carnegie Mellon University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $127,776 in 1.9 years versus not at all at Community College of Allegheny County, on median earnings of $114,862 vs $39,449 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Community College of Allegheny County | Carnegie Mellon University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,970 | $31,944 |
| Total net cost | $27,940 | $127,776 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,449 | $114,862 |
| Median debt | $12,680 | $21,750 |
| Payback | — | 1.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$206,160 | $1,202,264 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Community College of Allegheny County or Carnegie Mellon University?
Community College of Allegheny County, at $13,970 a year after aid versus $31,944 — a gap of $17,974 a year, or $99,836 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Community College of Allegheny County or Carnegie Mellon University graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon University graduates report a median $114,862 ten years after entry, $75,413 more than the $39,449 at Community College of Allegheny County. 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Community College of Allegheny County or Carnegie Mellon University?
Community College of Allegheny County: its completers carry a median $12,680 in federal loans versus $21,750 at Carnegie Mellon University, a difference of $9,070. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
94% of students finish at Carnegie Mellon University, against 24% at Community College of Allegheny County. 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.