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Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA·Private·~12% acceptance

Carnegie Mellon University is a private university in Pittsburgh, PA. It is highly selective, admitting about 12% of applicants. The average net price after aid is about $31,944 per year. About 93% of students graduate, and alumni earn a median of about $114,862 ten years after enrolling.

Average cost
$31,944/yr avg net price after aid
Full cost $83,654
Aid cuts ~$51,710/yr on average

Average across all aided students (U.S. College Scorecard). Your actual price depends on your family's income. Take the free Matchmaker for an estimate based on your numbers.

Deadlines
ED
Nov 2
EA
RD
Jan 4

ED and RD not confirmed with the college yet. Check their site before you rely on it.

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Your fit

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Admissions
GPA range3.53–4
SAT (middle 50%)1500–1570
ACT (middle 50%)34–35
Test policyConsidered
Programs
Computer Science
Data Science / Statistics
Information Systems / IT
Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Environmental Science
Outcomes
93%
graduation rate
98%
freshman retention
$105,360
median earnings, 6yr
$114,862
median earnings, 10yr
How Carnegie Mellon reads an application

What Carnegie Mellon values

Very important
Course rigorGrades (GPA)Class rankExtracurricularsCharacter / personal qualitiesVolunteer work
Important
Application essaysRecommendationsTalent / abilityFirst-generation status
Also considered
Test scoresGeographic residenceWork experience

From Carnegie Mellon’s Common Data Set. Put your effort where it counts most.

What Carnegie Mellon requires

Required
Grades (GPA)Course rigorCollege-prep programRecommendationsApplication essaysDemonstration of competenciesTOEFL / English proficiency
Considered
Class rankTest scoresWork experience

From federal IPEDS data — what Carnegie Mellon requires vs considers (not how heavily each is weighed).

Frequently asked questions
What is Carnegie Mellon University's acceptance rate?
Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants.
How much does Carnegie Mellon University cost?
At Carnegie Mellon University, the average net price after aid is about $31,944 per year, and the full cost of attendance is about $83,654 per year before aid. Your actual price depends on your family's income. Take Blueprint's free Matchmaker for an estimate based on your numbers.
What SAT or ACT scores do you need for Carnegie Mellon University?
The middle 50% of admitted students score 1500–1570 on the SAT and 34–35 on the ACT.
What are Carnegie Mellon University's application deadlines?
Carnegie Mellon University's deadlines are Early Decision around Nov 2, Regular Decision around Jan 4. Always confirm exact dates on the school's official site.
What does Carnegie Mellon University value most in applicants?
In its most recent Common Data Set, Carnegie Mellon University rates Course rigor, Grades (GPA), Class rank, Extracurriculars, Character / personal qualities, and Volunteer work as "very important" in admissions decisions, and also weighs Application essays, Recommendations, Talent / ability, and First-generation status. Take Blueprint's free Matchmaker to see how your profile lines up.

See if Carnegie Mellon University is a fit for you

Two free steps: find your best-fit majors with the Discovery quiz, then run the College Matchmaker for your real admission odds and net price at Carnegie Mellon University, side by side with your other schools.