Overview of Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University is a private research institution with an acceptance rate of 22%. A mid-sized institution situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon is best known for its top-ranked science and engineering programs. A 10-to-1 student/faculty ratio supports academics. A robust student/faculty ratio backs students, and professors take a personalized approach to the teaching and learning process. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 14,625 (6,947 undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 51 percent male/49 percent female
• 96 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $57,119
• Books: $1,000
• Room and Board: $14,972
• Other Expenses: $1,400
• Total Cost: $74,491

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 59 percent
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 50 percent
  • Loans: 35 percent

• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $33,999
  • Loans: $7,307

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Engineering; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Mathematics and Statistics; and Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 97 percent
• Transfer-Out Rate: 7%
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 75 percent
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 89 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
• The CMU Tartans play in the NCAA Division III University Athletic Association.

Overview of Carnegie Mellon University Admissions

Carnegie Mellon has a highly competitive admissions process with a low acceptance rate and high mean SAT/ACT scores. Students whose SAT/ACT scores and GPA are within the institution’s requirements have a good chance of being admitted. Applicants must complete an online application and send high school transcripts. Glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the admissions offices mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the next steps of the application process. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.

Admissions Data

Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, Carnegie Mellon University had an acceptance rate of 22%.  for every 100 students who submitted applications, 22 gained admission, making Carnegie Mellon’s admissions process highly competitive.

SAT Requirements and Scores

Carnegie Mellon requires that applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 72% of admitted students provided SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that Carnegie Mellon’s admitted students scored in the top 7% on the SAT. For the reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Carnegie Mellon scored between 700 and 750, while 25% scored below 700, and 25% scored over 750. In the math section, 50% of students who gained admission scored 750 and 800, while 25% scored below 750, and 25% scored a perfect 800. Applicants with a cumulative SAT score of 1550 or higher will have competitive chances at Carnegie Mellon.

ACT Requirements and Scores

Carnegie Mellon requires that applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 42% of admitted students provided ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that Carnegie Mellon’s admitted students scored in the top 2% on the ACT. The median 50% of students admitted to Carnegie Mellon received a cumulative ACT score between 32 and 35, while 25% scored over 35, and 25% scored below 32.

GPA

The average high school GPA of Carnegie Mellon’s freshman class was 3.69 in 2019. Successful applicants have A and B grades primarily.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Carnegie Mellon University, then it should be easy for you to gain admissions to the schools below. If Carnegie Mellon University is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York University, Boston University, Boston College

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Carnegie Mellon University, then you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Tufts University, Northeastern University, University of Michigan

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Carnegie Mellon University. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.

California Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, Yale University, Columbia University

Applying to Carnegie Mellon University

Application Deadline: January 1

Undergraduate Admissions Website: https://admission.enrollment.cmu.edu/

Undergraduate Application Link(s): https://admission.enrollment.cmu.edu/pages/apply-now

Graduate Admissions Website: https://www.cmu.edu/graduate/admissions/

Graduate Application Link(s):

https://www.cmu.edu/graduate/academics/guide-to-graduate-degrees-and-programs/index.html