<p>I am looking at attending CMU quite seriously. Obviously the biggest factor for me as an international is the cost of attendance. Therefore, I have the following queries regarding it:-</p>
<p>-Whats the actual amount one will end up paying for the first year (including everything - insurance, books etc)?</p>
<p>-The CMU site says that staying off campus turns out to be cheaper ($6K-7K margin). Is that really true and is it worth it?</p>
<p>-What is the fees escalation every year?</p>
<p>-What are the earning opportunities at CMU open to internationals?</p>
<p>CMU admission rep said to allocated about $45.000 per year for the full cost of attenance. This may be a bit high but it isn't that high. In addition, you have to factor future cost of living increases.</p>
<p>It's hard to believe that starting next year, the actual cost will rise to about $50,000 or more per year!</p>
<p>Lets put this in perspective. The average graduate isn't going to make much more than $50,000 to start. Also, in many majors such as science, music and design, they won't even start at $50,000. Since college tuition isn't deductible but salary is fully taxable, it has to take about 5-8 years, depending on the major to simply recoup what was spent!</p>
<p>With these high prices, a good argument can be made for attending a much less expensive school such as a state school</p>
<p>"The average graduate isn't going to make much more than $50,000 to start. Also, in many majors such as science, music and design, they won't even start at $50,000. Since college tuition isn't deductible but salary is fully taxable, it has to take about 5-8 years, depending on the major to simply recoup what was spent!"</p>
<p>The avg overall Tepper salary is over 60k with bonuses. The median of 55k is NOT INCLUDING bonuses. Ask other parent's and graduating seniors for more examples. The avg engineering salary is just as high or even HIGHER than Tepper. The same is true for CS with the 72k medians. </p>
<p>50k overall seems dangerous but a 60+k job means you can EASILY repay your loans over a short term. Ask 211lk (sry I never know how to spell your name) and the situation with his son.</p>
<p>Not even schools like Cornell/Princeton have avg salaries in the high 50's. I think Cornell engineers is avg 50k from the link I pulled up in the Cornell thread and Princeton is around 50k avg for Econ. Umich has avg salaries in the 48-52k for Engineering and that is probably one of the best state schools along with Berkeley.</p>
<p>Unless your major is English, History or something like that without the 55ks (60+k overall) avgs, it isn't that bad at all.</p>
<p>but what about the "worth it" factor....i mean i can pay the full ride but after quite a bit of hassel (like my parents selling off some property)...but then it'll be much easier if i goto colleges like gatech which is $16K-18K cheaper....</p>
<p>Off campus living is definitely cheaper. I got a double with one of my friend's for next year (sophomore) and it is going to be super cheap. My parents are working the details out right now but it won't cost me more than a couple hundred. </p>
<p>Dexter, I would definitely visit if you can. Tech has social issues and their avg salary is not 60k (51k avg). You would probably have more fun at CMU (Tech's ratio is even worse and it is not in a college environment like Pittsburgh). If the extra money is REALLY worth it to you then go to Tech but I'm just saying you could have a much enjoyable 4 years, a better degree, and higher salaries that will pay off your "GA degree" within a few years.</p>
<p>Please check the career post-grad surveys for 2005. We have higher avg salaries than Cornell/Princeton/WUSTL/etc. with our high 55-57k avgs for Engineering/Tepper/IS and even higher for CS/ECE. </p>
<p>These avgs clearly state they do NOT include bonuses and the avg total Tepper salary is 60+k. </p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon's degree has always been highly marketable and this is why we've always been recruited heavily and offered jobs just as if not better than schools ranked higher than us. </p>
<p>I know some may be skeptical but LOOK at figures and statistics instead of gut feeling.</p>
<p>alrite thanx....another question!!....i am kind of gathering all the positives about CMU to tell my parents!! ;)....anyways i learnt that one can complete post grad at CMU in 5 years provided he/she has done the undergrad there as well....so what is the seperation like?....4 years for UG and 1 year for PG -OR- 3 years for UG (some accelerated prog?) and 2 years for PG?</p>
<p>To impress your parents, print out Princeton's avg 50k salary for Econ and then CMU's 55k salaries without bonuses and show it to 'em. :)</p>
<p>The separation is basically 3 years for Ugrad and 2 years for grad. The reason for this is because ugrad is not as intense and much more open than grad. For example in the 5 year MBA program, the 2 years at the Tepper school for MBA are very important and the courses are basically selected for you. IN ugrad, all kinds of ppl are taking beginner math, advanced math, electives, etc.</p>
<p>what about PG in ECE?...still 3+2 sepertion?....actually following is the thing i read....
One great thing CMU offers: all you need is a 3.0 and you can get your masters in ECE in just one year. Last year of the 98 ECEs who went on to grad school, 65 stayed right at CMU for their masters.
<p>Oh I was mainly familiar with Tepper's 5 year MBA. For some reason I thought you were referring to a 5 year MBA.</p>
<p>Yes, it may be different for different majors (especially stuff in engineering). I would visit the website and look it up or email the department in which you are interested.</p>
<p>$50K X4 is still $200K, no matter how you slice it. I know alumni from CMU who, while they think they got a good education, advised me that in retrospect that they did not feel that amount of money was warranted for undergrad. Rather, it would be better to save that cash for grad or professional school. Just another opinion!</p>
<p>(PS - you can find that 3-2 BS/MBA in many schools :))</p>
<p>And that is such a huge difference from other colleges like Ivies, etc?</p>
<p>Yes, I would agree that if you cannot even pay ANY of the money you shouldn't be considering any school with tuition in the 30ks. Ppl do pay 50ks for WUSTL's degree with its high 40k avgs while wondering whether paying the same for CMU's degree with the 60ks is worth it. I am just trying to prove through STATS and DATA that CMU's avg salaries MAY make the tuition worth it.</p>
<p>As for the grad program, where else can you go besides Berkeley/MIT/Stanford that will offer you the same caliber of CS/ECE grad?</p>
<p>I appreciate all comments though because it is very nice to get different views. :)</p>
<p>Yeah Ive heard of this 3 year engineering + 2 years MBA thing. Is it for real? </p>
<p>Dexter I have pretty much the same issues as you but I decided on CMU as well. Trust me, Gatech won't be worth it. They really have some big issues.</p>
<p>
[quote]
And that is such a huge difference from other colleges like Ivies, etc?
[/quote]
No, of course there is no difference in the numbers. I only mention CMU because that was our dilemma and that was advice offered to us by graduates of CMU. It is a great school, but there are varying opinions on exactly how much it is "worth". It may bear mentioning that the comments came from (1) parents of undergrads and (2) working people whose terminal degree was not a BA or BS.</p>