Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, celebrated for fusing technical depth with the arts — home to a top-ranked School of Computer Science and College of Engineering alongside an internationally renowned College of Fine Arts. Admission is highly competitive: CMU admitted about 11.7% of nearly 34,000 applicants for its most recent class, and enrolled first-years posted middle-50% SAT scores of 1510–1560 and an average high school GPA near 3.89. Engineering and computer science together account for roughly four in ten bachelor's degrees, and CMU meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted students.
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Carnegie Mellon admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
Carnegie Mellon offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~1.2× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
Carnegie Mellon is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Carnegie Mellon's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 53.8% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Carnegie Mellon does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Carnegie Mellon weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Carnegie Mellon's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Carnegie Mellon admissions
Is it hard to get into Carnegie Mellon?＋
Yes, Carnegie Mellon is highly selective, admitting about 11.7% of applicants in the most recent cycle, roughly 3,959 offers out of nearly 34,000 applications, with about 1,808 first-years enrolling. With academic GPA, class rank, the rigor of your course load, extracurriculars, and personal qualities all weighed as very important, the bar is set high across the whole application.
What GPA do you need to get into Carnegie Mellon?＋
There is no hard GPA cutoff, but admitted first-years average about a 3.89 high school GPA, and the class clusters at the very top of its cohort, with roughly 94% of students who reported a class rank placing in the top tenth of their graduating class. Carnegie Mellon weighs academic GPA, class rank, and the rigor of your course load all as very important factors.
Is the SAT or ACT required at Carnegie Mellon?＋
No, Carnegie Mellon is test-optional, so you can apply without submitting scores. Standardized test scores are only 'considered' in the review rather than required, and among enrolled students who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1510-1560 on the SAT and 34-35 on the ACT.
Is a 1500 SAT good enough for Carnegie Mellon?＋
A 1500 is right at the edge of the competitive range: the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1510-1560 on the SAT, so a 1500 sits just below the 25th percentile of 1510. Because Carnegie Mellon is test-optional and treats scores as only 'considered,' a slightly-below-median score is not disqualifying, especially if the rest of your application is strong.
What is Carnegie Mellon's early decision acceptance rate?＋
Carnegie Mellon offers a binding Early Decision plan, and in the most recent cycle it received 4,423 ED applications and admitted 612 students, an ED admit rate of about 14% versus the 11.7% overall rate. ED offers a modest statistical edge, but it commits you to enroll if admitted, so apply early only if CMU is your clear first choice.
How much does Carnegie Mellon cost, and is financial aid available?＋
Tuition and required fees run about $68,776 per year, with the total cost of attendance higher once on-campus housing and food (about $18,894) are added. Carnegie Mellon meets 100% of demonstrated financial need; roughly 33% of first-years receive need-based scholarship or grant aid, with an average need-based award near $56,222.
Does the application essay matter at Carnegie Mellon?＋
Yes, Carnegie Mellon rates the application essay as an important factor in its holistic review, ranking it above standardized test scores, which are only 'considered.' With an 11.7% acceptance rate, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest ways to stand out, especially alongside the extracurriculars and personal qualities CMU weighs as very important.
What are the most popular majors at Carnegie Mellon?＋
Engineering is the single most popular area at about 22% of bachelor's degrees, followed closely by computer science at 16%. Business, interdisciplinary studies, mathematics and statistics, and the fine and performing arts round out the most-conferred fields, reflecting CMU's signature blend of technical and creative programs.
Source: Carnegie Mellon University Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Carnegie Mellon. Banner photo by Dllu, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).