For prospective students and their families, The Ivy Scholars Guide to Carnegie Mellon University’s Culture, Admissions, and Other Important Information
| Colleges/Programs | Applications | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Mellon College of Science | 6614 | 22% |
| School of Computer Science | 8,329 | 7% |
| Tepper School of Business | 3,295 | 23% |
| Intercollege Degree Programs | 1,041 | 7% |
Carnegie Mellon: Early Decision Acceptance Rate – Class of 2025
Carnegie Mellon accepted 20% of the 2,972 ED applicants to the Class of 2025 Although this is higher than the regular decision clip, it is still not as advantageous as at many other prestigious institutions where rates for ED applicants can be up to 2-3 times higher. Decisions at CMU are made by December 15 and the deadline for early decision is November 1. Additionally, they have an ED II choice with a half-deadline.
Carnegie Mellon Acceptance Rate – Class of 2025
Only 13 of the 32,896 applications received for a spot in the freshman class of 2021–2022 were accepted. 5% were accepted. This is a bit less favorable than the 17% acceptance rate for the Class of 2024 Results by school/program are available for the Class of 2024:
CollegeAcceptance RateCollege of Fine ArtsArchitecture: 34%Art: 23%Design: 11%Drama: 4%Music: 31%Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences26%Engineering20%Information Systems24%Mellon College of Science22%School of Computer Science7%Tepper School of Business23%
Carnegie Mellon Admissions – SAT, ACT, class rank, and GPA
The overall mid-50% SAT range for Class of 2025 enrolled students was 1480-1560 The ACT range was 33-35. In that cohort, 48% submitted an SAT score and 22% included an ACT result in their application An incredible 89% of 2021-22 freshmen placed in the top 10% of their high school class and 99 5% were in the top quartile. The average unweighted GPA was a 3. 89 and 45% earned a perfect 4. 0.
The SAT and ACT middle-50% ranges as well as average GPA, by college, for the Class of 2024 (most recent available) are as follows:
| College | SAT-ERW | SAT-M | ACT | GPA |
| College of Fine Arts | 700-740 | 730-780 | 33-34 | 3.77 |
| Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences | 740-770 | 790-800 | 34-35 | 3.87 |
| Engineering | 740-770 | 790-800 | 35 | 3.91 |
| Information Systems | 740-760 | 780-800 | 35 | 3.89 |
| Mellon College of Science | 740-770 | 800 | 35-36 | 3.92 |
| School of Computer Science | 770-780 | 800 | 36 | 3.95 |
| Tepper School of Business | 730-760 | 790-800 | 35 | 3.88 |
Admissions Trends & Notes
- For applicants to CMU for fall 2023 admission, no tests will still be required.
- The Class of 2025 included 11% first-generation college students, up from 9% the previous year
- 18% of the Class of 2025 identify as underrepresented minority students
- The average SAT for an enrolled freshman was 1509.
- International students made up 21% of the freshman class. There were 39 countries represented.
- The average high school class rank for an enrolled freshman was 7%
How Carnegie Mellon Rates Applicants
Rigor of secondary school record, class rank, GPA, extracurricular activities, volunteer work experience, and paid work experience are six factors that Carnegie Mellon ranks as being “very important” to their admissions process. The admissions committee considers essays, recommendations, first-generation status, legacy status, character/personal qualities, race/ethnicity, and talent/ability to be “important.”
Carnegie Mellon is looking for genuine excellence in one or more activities, not just that you filled the ten spaces on the Common App Activity List. For instance, you co-authored original research, won a prestigious international science or mathematics competition, came in first place, created an app, or contributed your talents to a charitable organization.
According to the school:
- There is no one grade, factor, score, or activity that will guarantee your admission to Carnegie Mellon.” We take great care to make our admission decisions thoughtful, thorough, and fair for each applicant as an individual. Students who can succeed at Carnegie Mellon, take full advantage of everything the university has to offer, and enhance our campus community are what we’re looking for. ”.
- Your extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, commitments to your family, hobbies, and involvement in the community are all very significant factors in the admissions process. When making admissions decisions, we also take into account cooperation, tenacity, passion, support for others, and self-direction.
- Think carefully about your Carnegie Mellon college selection(s) before applying. Although you may apply to up to two institutions or programs that interest you, keep in mind that most candidates will only be chosen for their top-choice institution if they are eligible.
Who Actually Gets Into Carnegie Mellon?
Let’s look at the demographics of current Carnegie Mellon undergraduates.
Geographically, we know the following about CMU students.
- In-state students: 13%
- Out-of-state students: 87%
- The Mid-Atlantic Region is the most represented area (38%)
- Students come from 78 countries around the world.
Those from states with an endless supply of qualified applicants (the entire Northeast) face the toughest competition. On the other hand, there were no students from Alaska, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, or Wyoming in the Class of 2025.
In terms of ethnic identity, the undergraduate student body is divided as follows:
- White: 22.3%
- Asian: 38.0%
- Hispanic: 9.3%
- African American: 3.4%
- Two or more: 4.4%
- International: 15.9%
The nations with the most students enrolling at CMU are:
For the Class of 2025, the gender distribution is as follows:
- Male: 48%
- Female: 51.5%
- Non-binary: 1.5%
Because fewer women apply to the university than men do, women have a much higher acceptance rate. For the Class of 2024, this was 13% (for men) versus 23% for women
Carnegie Mellon’s Yield Rate
Carnegie Mellon%E2%80%99s yield rate%E2%80%94the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted is 43% Despite being over 40 points below Stanford and Harvard, this score is comparable to many other highly selective private universities. Carnegie Mellon sports a similar yield rate to schools like the University of Michigan (41%), Amherst College (35%), and Tulane University (37%)
Tips for Applying to Carnegie Mellon
If you intend to be one of the 32,000 applicants to CMU for the upcoming admissions cycle, you should be aware of the following:
- For incoming freshmen, Carnegie Mellon does not provide any kind of in-person or alumni interviews. As a result, your two required recommendations—one from your counselor and one from your teacher—are one of the best ways for admissions officers to get to know you personally. Additionally, candidates are allowed to submit an optional third letter of recommendation. Visit our blog post on the subject for advice on how to approach teachers and which ones to ask.
- Since Carnegie Mellon does not formally recognize “demonstrated interest,” your application will not be affected by whether you visited campus (during non-pandemic times), spoke with an admissions officer, etc. However, given the school’s lower yield rate (compared to some other elite schools), getting in touch with an admissions officer, going to a virtual information session, or interacting with the school on social media is never a bad idea.
- You must complete a separate application for each college you wish to attend, along with an additional application fee. You can choose a secondary school at CMU on a single application.
- Ensure that you put enough time and effort into the three 300-word supplemental essays that Carnegie Mellon requires. In the 2021-22 cycle, they are as follows.
1) A lot of students enroll in college to pursue a particular degree, job opportunity, or personal objective. Learning will be essential to achieving your ultimate goal, whatever it may be. How will you define a successful college experience as you look ahead to the learning process during your college years?
2) What passion or inspiration led you to choose this field of study? Most students choose their intended major or area of study based on a passion or inspiration that has grown over time.
3) Consider your application as a whole. Highlight something that is significant to you or something you haven’t had the opportunity to share in your application for the admissions committee’s consideration. Tell us, don’t show us (no websites please).
Visit our blog at Carnegie Mellon – Essay Prompts and Tips for more information on how to approach the CMU essays.
Should I Apply to Carnegie Mellon?
There is no harm in submitting an application to Carnegie Mellon if you have strong academic and extracurricular credentials, but as with all highly competitive colleges in 2022, even the best and brightest teenagers need to have a suitable college list with a complement of “target” and “safety” schools. The students who will succeed in navigating this admissions maze will have a record of straight As in an extremely challenging course load, excellent test scores (typically 98th percentile or higher), and at least one or two extracurricular interests and talents.
How I Got Into a Top Computer Science School (Carnegie Mellon)
FAQ
How hard is it to get into Carnegie Mellon for computer science?
A typical acceptance rate for the highly competitive MSAII program is around 10%. The majority of qualified candidates hold a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a closely related field. A strong background in computer science and mathematics is required for admission regardless of your undergraduate major.
Does Carnegie Mellon have a good CS program?
CMU ranks No. 1 overall in computer science. Additionally, among business, computer science, and engineering programs that prepare the next generation of innovators to address real-world issues and advance humankind’s standard of living and productivity, Carnegie Mellon University ranks first in eight specialty areas.
Can I get into Carnegie Mellon with a 3.7 GPA?
At Carnegie Mellon, admitted students’ average GPA is 3. 69. Lower GPAs are acceptable; the application as a whole will be taken into consideration. Along with your GPA, your extracurriculars, volunteer work, research projects, and more will be taken into consideration.
Is Carnegie Mellon as good as MIT?
According to the MIT News Office When assessing undergraduate computer science programs, U S. Along with Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University, and the University of California at Berkeley, News ranked MIT at the top of the list.