YES it is, but no college is worth borrowing $70k/Year so if that’s what’s required to attend then there are more cost effective options.
Tuition at CMU is not yet 70K/year. It’s $52,700 for the coming year. Cost of attendance is projected to be $70K/year, as it is at many elite schools.
As others have suggested, run the online net price calculators to estimate need-based aid.
Also, look for qualifications and data related to merit scholarships at Rutgers and UMCP. They may not award too many full tuition (/full ride) merit grants to OOS students. At some state flagships, the average merit award is only a few thousand dollars/year.
Some UMCP merit awards are restricted to state residents. The most prestigious ones (the Banneker/Key scholarships) are not. About 150/year are awarded. Of those, apparently only 2 or 3 exceptional students get the tip-top, full ride Stamps scholarship. I don’t know how many of the other Banneker/Key awards are full tuition or better. Some if not most (other than the 2 or 3 Stamps scholarships) apparently are limited to $12K for OOS students.
admission. enrollment. cmu. edu/ pages/ undergraduate-admission-statistics
can you get in in the first place…?
I went to CMU for engineering back in the 80’s and will say that I dont regret one minute going there versus Rutgers (I was from NJ so it would have been instate). As a female I instantly get respect the minute I state I went to CMU, and it did help me in the job market.
It depends.
It depends on how much CMU (or any school) would net cost you.
If your parents have no money saved up but make enough for you to have to pay full cost then no, you nor your parents should not take $280,000 in loans.
How much can they afford per year?
How are your scores and how much merit scholarships (if any) would you get?
If not much, then apply to a school where your scores are better than average.
If they have $300,000 in your college account and you have scores to get in, then go for it.
Thank you all. @bopper @outcast @sevmom @mathmom @Chembiodad @tk21769
For those looking for my credentials, I have them listed below. Again, I really appreciate your time and input, it really makes the college admissions process less painful 
GPA: 3.91 UW 4.77 W
SAT: 1510 (800 Math 710 English)
SAT Subject: Math 800 Chem 800
ACT: 35 (E 36 M 36 R 34 S 34)
AP Tests that I have taken:
Comp Sci- 5
Human Geo- 4
Macro-4
Micro-4
Psych-4
Environmental Science-4
Lang-4
Splang-4
BC-5
Chem-5
Senior Year Courseload:
AP Lit
Multi variable calc
Ap Physics C (both of them)
AP stats
Photography (for requirements)
American history (for requirements)
Extracurriculars:
Teachers assistant for comp sci class
I am director of a STEM club for girls
I am a girl scout doing a gold award which is also a STEM class
I volunteer as a math teacher (past 3 years total of 300 hours)
I volunteered in India On a service visit (120 hours)
I do a lot of community service remotely to that village as well like creating educational videos for the kids or creating a website for the center there (75 hours)
I participated in a lot of coding competitions
I am technology officer for another non-profit
National honors society
Spanish honors society
Few coding awards
i’m also on my school’s tennis team and I play rec basketball
Personal:
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Asian
Thanks in advance!!
You have great stats and EC’s and would be an attractive candidate at many schools! What state are you in in terms of potential instate options? What has your family told you they can contribute to your college costs per year?
Obviously, CS at Carnegie Mellon is very competitive (the other schools vary), but your stats aren’t going to keep you out of any school and being a female will be a plus at the engineering schools or programs that admit separately. Schedulewise - if your school offered a post AP-Calc course, I think that would serve you better than AP stats (which is not calculus based), but I don’t think it will be held against you.
https://admission.enrollment.cmu.edu/pages/undergraduate-admission-statistics
Can you get in in the first place?
https://admission.enrollment.cmu.edu/pages/undergraduate-admission-statistics
Can you get in in the first place?
@sevmom thank you! I live in nj close to Rutgers. Frankly, my parents can pay quite a lot and are willing to but it’s my own personal dilemma that’s making me overthink it: is an undergrad education I can get at many places worth paying a lot more for at CMU, also considering the pros of a smaller school, more attention, and more opportunities
@mathmom thank you I will try
CMU SCS is very competitive, but if you can get in, and if it’s in your budget it would be a great start to your CS education. I don’t know if I buy in to the “you can get an equivalent CS undergrad degree including attention and opportunities at many other schools” argument. Elite CS schools are elite for a reason: history, depth, resources, and environment, connections.
@Rivet2000 very true… thank you