Carnegie Mellon University logoCarnegie Mellon University

    Carnegie Mellon University

    Pittsburgh, PA · Northeast

    Acceptance rate
    11.7%
    SAT mid-50
    1500-1570
    Cost after aid
    $31,944
    Graduation rate
    94%

    Application deadlines

    Official 2026-2027 cycle deadlines for Carnegie Mellon University.

    PlanDeadline
    Early Decision I
    		Nov 1, 2026
    Regular Decision
    		Jan 3, 2027

    What Carnegie Mellon University says matters

    How Carnegie Mellon University rates each admissions factor in its Common Data Set, with the full published numbers below.

    Acceptance rate
    12%
    3,959 of 33,941
    Yield
    46%
    1,808 enrolled
    SAT mid-50
    1510-1560
    ACT mid-50
    34-35
    CDS year
    2024-25

    Acceptance rate by gender

    Men
    9.8%1,973 of 20,143
    Women
    15%1,870 of 12,735

    Very important

    • Rigor of secondary school record
    • Class rank
    • Academic GPA
    • Extracurricular activities
    • Character or personal qualities
    • Volunteer work

    Important

    • Application essay
    • Recommendations
    • Talent or ability
    • First generation

    Considered

    • Standardized test scores
    • Geographical residence
    • Work experience

    Not considered

    • Alumni relation
    • State residency
    • Religious affiliation or commitment
    • Level of applicant's interest

    The full Common Data Set

    Every figure Carnegie Mellon University published for 2024-25, section by section.

    First-Time, First-Year Admission93

    Applications

    Total first-time, first-year men who applied
    20,143
    Total first-time, first-year women who applied
    12,735
    Total first-time, first-year another gender who applied
    1,063
    Total first-time, first-year unknown gender who applied
    0
    Total first-time, first-year men who were admitted
    1,973
    Total first-time, first-year women who were admitted
    1,870
    Total first-time, first-year another gender who were admitted
    116
    Total first-time, first-year unknown gender who were admitted
    0
    Total full-time, first-time, first-year men who enrolled
    973
    Total part-time, first-time, first-year men who enrolled
    1
    Total full-time, first-time, first-year women who enrolled
    780
    Total part-time, first-time, first-year women who enrolled
    0
    Total full-time, first-time, first-year another gender who enrolled
    54
    Total part-time, first-time, first-year another gender who enrolled
    0
    Total full-time, first-time, first-year unknown gender who enrolled
    0
    Total part-time, first-time, first-year unknown gender who enrolled
    0
    Total first-time, first-year students who applied
    33,941
    Total first-time, first-year students who were admitted
    3,959
    Total first-time, first-year students who enrolled
    1,808

    Wait List

    Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list:
    16,484
    Number of wait-listed students admitted:
    32

    Admissions Requirements

    Total academic units
    4
    Mathematics
    4
    Science
    3
    Foreign language
    2
    History
    3
    Total academic units
    4
    Mathematics
    4
    Science
    3
    Foreign language
    2
    History
    3

    Basis for Selection

    Rigor of secondary school record
    Very Important
    Class rank
    Very Important
    Academic GPA
    Very Important
    Standardized test scores
    Considered
    Application Essay
    Important
    Recommendation(s)
    Important
    Extracurricular activities
    Very Important
    Talent/ability
    Important
    Character/personal qualities
    Very Important
    First generation
    Important
    Alumni/ae relation
    Not Considered
    Geographical residence
    Considered
    State residency
    Not Considered
    Religious affiliation/commitment
    Not Considered
    Volunteer work
    Very Important
    Work experience
    Considered
    Level of applicant’s interest
    Not Considered

    First-time, first-year Profile

    SAT Composite: 25th Percentile
    1,510
    SAT Composite: 50th Percentile
    1,540
    SAT Composite: 75th Percentile
    1,560
    SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 25th Percentile
    730
    SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 50th Percentile
    750
    SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 75th Percentile
    770
    SAT Math: 25th Percentile
    770
    SAT Math: 50th Percentile
    790
    SAT Math: 75th Percentile
    800
    ACT Composite: 25th Percentile
    34%
    ACT Composite: 50th Percentile
    35%
    ACT Composite: 75th Percentile
    35%
    ACT Math: 25th Percentile
    34%
    ACT Math: 50th Percentile
    35%
    ACT Math: 75th Percentile
    36%
    ACT English: 25th Percentile
    33%
    ACT English: 50th Percentile
    35%
    ACT English: 75th Percentile
    36%
    Percent in top tenth of high school graduating class
    94%
    Percent in top quarter of high school graduating class
    98%
    Percent in top half of high school graduating class
    100%
    Percent in bottom half of high school graduating class
    40%
    Percent in bottom quarter of high school graduating class
    20%
    Percent of total first-time, first-year students who submitted high school class rank:
    54%
    Percent who had GPA of 4.0
    47%
    Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.74
    11%
    Percent who had GPA between 3.25 and 3.49
    2.6%
    Percent who had GPA between 3.00 and 3.24
    30%
    Percent who had GPA between 2.50 and 2.99
    40%
    Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.49
    6.0%
    Percent who had GPA between 1.0 and 1.99
    6.0%
    Percent who had GPA below 1.0
    0

    Admission Policies

    Does your institution have an application fee?
    Yes
    Amount of application fee:
    75
    Can it be waived for applicants with financial need?
    Yes
    Does your institution have an application closing date?
    Yes
    Application closing date (fall)
    1
    Priority Date
    1
    Are first-time, first-year students accepted for terms other than the fall?
    No
    Does your institution allow students to postpone enrollment after admission?
    Yes
    Does your institution allow high school students to enroll as full-time, first-time, first-year students one year or more before high school graduation?
    Yes
    Does your institution offer an early decision plan (an admission plan that permits students to apply and be notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date and that asks students to commit to attending if accepted) for first-time, first-year applicants for fall enrollment?
    Yes
    Number of early decision applications received by your institution
    4,423
    Number of applicants admitted under early decision plan
    612
    Do you have a nonbinding early action plan whereby students are notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date but do not have to commit to attending your college?
    Yes
    Transfer Admission27

    Fall Applicants

    Men
    1,084
    Women
    540
    Another Gender
    64
    Unknown
    1,688
    Total
    52
    Men
    41
    Women
    1
    Another Gender
    94
    Unknown
    21
    Total
    15
    Men
    1
    Women
    37

    Application for Admission

    High school transcript
    Required of All
    College transcript(s)
    Required of All
    Essay or personal statement
    Required of All
    Interview
    Required of All
    Standardized test scores
    Required of All
    Statement of good standing from prior institution(s)
    Required of All
    List any other application requirements specific to transfer applicants:
    Transfer applicants must submit a college transcript in addition to a high school transcript, and email a copy of course desc riptions from a college catalog from each college/university attended. A recommendation from a professor or advisor should be submitted in place of a college counselor recommendation. The College Report (a Common Application form) is also required from the current academic institution. CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY COMMON DATA SET 2024-2025 14 D. TRANSFER ADMISSION (continued)
    Fall
    15
    Winter
    15
    Fall
    15
    Winter
    15

    Transfer Credit Policies

    American Council on Education (ACE)
    No
    College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
    No
    DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
    No
    If yes, please provide the URL where the policy can be located:
    https://www.cmu.edu/hub/registrar/veterans-benefits/
    Academic Offerings and Policies15

    Special Study Options

    Accelerated program
    X
    Comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities
    X
    Cross-registration
    X
    Distance learning
    X
    Double major
    X
    Dual enrollment
    X
    Independent study
    X
    Internships
    X
    Liberal arts/career combination
    X
    Student-designed major
    X
    Study abroad
    X
    Teacher certification program
    X
    Undergraduate Research
    X

    Required Course Work

    Computer literacy
    X
    Mathematics
    X
    Student Life38

    Percent Participating

    Percent who are from out of state (exclude international/nonresidents from the numerator and denominator)
    88%
    Percent of men who join fraternities
    6.0%
    Percent of women who join sororities
    6.0%
    Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing
    100%
    Percent who live off campus or commute
    0
    Percent of students age 25 and older
    0
    Percent who are from out of state (exclude international/nonresidents from the numerator and denominator)
    86%
    Percent of men who join fraternities
    6.9%
    Percent of women who join sororities
    6.8%
    Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing
    52%
    Percent who live off campus or commute
    49%
    Percent of students age 25 and older
    26%

    Average Age

    Average age of full-time students
    18.05
    Average age of all students (full- and part-time)
    18.05
    Average age of full-time students
    19.66
    Average age of all students (full- and part-time)
    19.71

    Activities Offered

    Campus Ministries
    X
    Choral groups
    X
    Concert band
    X
    Dance
    X
    Drama/theater
    X
    International Student Organization
    X
    Jazz band
    X
    Literary magazine
    X
    Marching band
    X
    Model UN
    X
    Music ensembles
    X
    Musical theater
    X
    Opera
    X
    Pep band
    X
    Radio station
    X
    Student government
    X
    Student newspaper
    X
    Student-run film society
    X
    Symphony orchestra
    X
    Television station
    X
    Yearbook
    X

    Housing

    Coed dorms
    X
    Annual Expenses5

    Information

    Please provide the URL of your institution’s net price calculator:
    https://admission.enrollment.cmu.edu/pages/net-price-calculator

    All Institutions Expenses

    Required Fees:
    1756
    Required Fees:
    1076

    Tuition Policies

    Do tuition and fees vary by year of study (e.g., sophomore, junior, senior)?
    No
    Do tuition and fees vary by undergraduate instructional program?
    Yes
    Financial Aid44

    Students Awarded Non-need-based Aid

    N. Number of students in line a who had no financial need and who were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid (exclude those who were awarded athletic awards and tuition benefits)
    32
    O. Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based scholarship and grant aid awarded to students in line n
    12,949
    P. Number of students in line a who were awarded an institutional non-need-based athletic scholarship or grant
    0
    Q. Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based athletic scholarships and grants awarded to students in line p
    0
    N. Number of students in line a who had no financial need and who were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid (exclude those who were awarded athletic awards and tuition benefits)
    8
    O. Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based scholarship and grant aid awarded to students in line n
    11,146
    P. Number of students in line a who were awarded an institutional non-need-based athletic scholarship or grant
    0
    Q. Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based athletic scholarships and grants awarded to students in line p
    0

    Reporting Year

    2024-2025
    2024-2025 estimated

    Methodology

    Both FM and IM
    10753366

    Need-based Aid Awarded

    Federal
    927236
    State all states, not only the state in which your institution is located
    152561532
    Institutional: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below).
    1900192
    Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college
    166142326
    Total Scholarships/Grants
    9648337
    Student loans from all sources (excluding parent loans)
    5959976
    Federal Work-Study
    0
    State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)
    15608313
    Total Self-Help
    115373
    Parent Loans
    859344
    Tuition Waivers Note: Reporting is optional. Report tuition waivers in this row if you choose to report them. Do not report tuition waivers elsewhere.
    0
    Athletic Awards
    0

    Non-need-based Aid Awarded

    Federal
    0
    State all states, not only the state in which your institution is located
    3775528
    Institutional: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below).
    2794692
    Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college
    6570220
    Total Scholarships/Grants
    9394053
    Student loans from all sources (excluding parent loans)
    0
    State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)
    9394053
    Total Self-Help
    10624519
    Parent Loans
    8082446
    Tuition Waivers Note: Reporting is optional. Report tuition waivers in this row if you choose to report them. Do not report tuition waivers elsewhere.
    0

    Graduating Cohort

    Provide the number of students in the 2024 undergraduate class who started at your institution as first-time students and received a bachelor's degree between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. Exclude students who transferred into your institution.
    2,024

    Financial Aid Forms

    FAFSA
    X
    Noncustodial PROFILE
    X

    Financial Aid Reply

    Students must reply by (date):
    5
    or within____weeks of notification.
    1

    Aid Available

    College/university loans from institutional funds
    X
    Federal Pell Grants
    X
    State scholarships/grants
    X
    Private scholarships
    X

    Institutional Aid

    Alumni affiliation
    X
    Alumni affiliation
    X
    If your institution has recently implemented any major financial aid policy, program, or initiative to make your institution more affordable to incoming students such as replacing loans with grants, or waiving costs for families below a certain income level please provide details:
    CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY COMMON DATA SET 2024-2025 28
    Disciplinary Areas of Degrees Conferred44

    Diploma/Certificates

    Agriculture
    0
    Natural resources and conservation
    0
    Architecture
    2.83
    Area, ethnic, and gender studies
    0
    Communication/journalism
    0.06

    Bachelors

    Agriculture
    1
    Natural resources and conservation
    3
    Architecture
    4
    Area, ethnic, and gender studies
    5
    Communication/journalism
    9
    Communication technologies
    0
    Computer and information sciences
    16.45
    Personal and culinary services
    0
    Education
    0
    Engineering
    21.62
    Engineering technologies
    0.17
    Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics
    0.28
    Family and consumer sciences
    0
    Law/legal studies
    0
    English
    0.44
    Liberal arts/general studies
    2
    Library science
    0
    Biological/life sciences
    3.95
    Mathematics and statistics
    10.73
    Military science and military technologies
    0
    Interdisciplinary studies
    11.17
    Parks and recreation
    0
    Philosophy and religious studies
    0.72
    Theology and religious vocations
    0
    Physical sciences
    4.95
    Science technologies
    0
    Psychology
    1
    Homeland Security, law enforcement, firefighting, and protective services
    0
    Public administration and social services
    0
    Social sciences
    3.5
    Construction trades
    0
    Mechanic and repair technologies
    0
    Precision production
    0
    Transportation and materials moving
    0
    Visual and performing arts
    7.62
    Health professions and related programs
    0
    Business/marketing
    12.34
    History
    0.17
    Other
    0
    Enrollment And Persistence28

    Enrollment by Racial/Ethnic Category

    Nonresidents
    88.4
    Hispanic/Latino
    115
    Black or African American, non-Hispanic
    39
    White, non-Hispanic
    379
    American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
    0
    Asian, non-Hispanic
    711
    Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
    0
    Two or more races, non-Hispanic
    75
    Race and/or ethnicity unknown
    127
    TOTAL
    1,808
    Hispanic/Latino
    731
    Black or African American, non-Hispanic
    292
    White, non-Hispanic
    1,587
    American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
    1
    Asian, non-Hispanic
    2,524
    Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
    2
    Two or more races, non-Hispanic
    393
    Race and/or ethnicity unknown
    410
    TOTAL
    7,744
    Hispanic/Latino
    735
    Black or African American, non-Hispanic
    298
    White, non-Hispanic
    1,607
    American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
    1
    Asian, non-Hispanic
    2,530
    Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
    2
    Two or more races, non-Hispanic
    394
    Race and/or ethnicity unknown
    434
    TOTAL
    7,824
    Instructional Faculty And Class Size19

    Student to Faculty Ratio

    Fall 2024 Student to Faculty ratio
    6
    based on ____ students
    7,624
    and ____ faculty
    220

    Undergraduate Class Size

    2-9
    646
    10-19
    575
    20-29
    209
    30-39
    91
    40-49
    74
    50-99
    132
    100+
    70
    Total
    1,797
    2-9
    67
    10-19
    204
    20-29
    240
    30-39
    113
    40-49
    17
    50-99
    8
    100+
    0
    Total
    649
    Source: Carnegie Mellon University's Common Data Set 2024-25

    About Carnegie Mellon University

    Carnegie Mellon University is a small private university in Pittsburgh, PA, in a city setting.

    What Carnegie Mellon University looks for

    Carnegie Mellon University accepts roughly 12%, which means a strong application is necessary but not sufficient. Most admitted students are at or above the mid-50 in test scores and have at least one extracurricular thread that AOs read as substantive. The supplements matter. The "why us" essay is where many otherwise-strong applications fall apart, because it reads as a Mad Libs of the school's website rather than a real plan.

    Frequently asked

    • What SAT score do I need for Carnegie Mellon University?

      Carnegie Mellon University's middle 50% SAT range is 1500 to 1570. A score in or above that band keeps you in the conversation; below it, the rest of your application has to do more work.

    • What ACT score do I need for Carnegie Mellon University?

      Middle 50% ACT range is 34 to 35. The top of that range or above is what most admitted students submit when they choose to send a score.

    • What is the acceptance rate at Carnegie Mellon University?

      Carnegie Mellon University admits roughly 12% of applicants. That makes it a reach for nearly everyone, regardless of stats.

    • What does Carnegie Mellon University actually cost after financial aid?

      Average net cost (after institutional aid) is about $31,944 per year. Net cost varies enormously by family income; run the school's net price calculator for an estimate that reflects your situation.

    • Is Carnegie Mellon University a reach, match, or safety for me?

      Compare your stats to the middle 50% above. If you are at or below the 25th percentile, treat Carnegie Mellon University as a reach. If you are in the middle 50%, it is a match. Above the 75th percentile and the school accepts above 25% overall, it is closer to a safety. Selectivity below 20% should be treated as a reach for everyone, period.

    Reading from the journal

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