Private

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA

Visit website

Private

Visit website

Admit Rate

12%^{* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)}Ultra-Selective

GPA Range (Unweighted)

3.89 - 4.00

Cost of Attendance

$86,812

per year, before aid

Test Policy

SAT/ACT optional

Data sourced from IPEDS, Institutional Website · Last verified 2026-09-15. This provenance applies to the record as a whole — figures marked with a star are sourced separately, as noted at the bottom of the page.

Preparation

Helpful high school preparation

AP Calculus BCLinear AlgebraAP Physics C: MechanicsAP Computer Science A

This is helpful preparation, not a formal admission requirement.

Admissions

How admission works here

Where you apply: The Common App. Common App requirements grid
Test scores: Test scores are sometimes required. Common App requirements grid
Essays: The Common App personal essay is required. Common App requirements grid
Recommendations: 1 teacher recommendation, a counselor recommendation, a mid-year report. Common App requirements grid
Application fee: $75. The Common App fee waiver is accepted. Common App requirements grid
Deadlines: Early Decision (binding) November 2, Regular Decision January 4. Common App requirements grid

Overall

12%^{* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)}

In-State

12%

Out-of-State

10%

Overall is College Scorecard's verified figure and won't necessarily sit between the separately-reported In-State/Out-of-State rates shown here, which are what My Fit uses to classify your chances.

Mid-50% Unweighted GPA

3.89 - 4.00

Mid-50% SAT

1500 - 1570

SAT/ACT optional

Impacted Majors

School of Computer Science (SCS)Electrical and Computer EngineeringDrama / Musical TheatreInformation Systems

Applying

Application Deadlines^{† (source: Common App requirements grid · 2026-27)}

Early Decision

November 2 · Binding

Regular Decision

January 4 · Non-binding

Applying through the Common App

Application fee: $75
Common App fee waiver: Accepted
Common App personal essay: Required
Self-reported courses and grades: Required
Recommendations: 1 teacher recommendation, counselor recommendation, mid-year report

Source: Common App requirements grid, updated 2026-09-18. Anything not listed here wasn't stated in the grid, which is not the same as not required.

Essay details are being verified

College-specific prompts can change each application cycle. Check the school's official application page for the latest requirements.

View official application requirements

Academics

Flagship Programs

School of Computer Science (SCS)School of Drama (Directing/Acting/Design)Tepper School of Business (B.S. Business Analytics)

Career & Major Pathways

Primary Disciplines

Computer ScienceEngineeringFine ArtsBusiness

Interdisciplinary Pathways

BXA Intercollege Degree Programs (BCSA, BHA, BSA)Robotics Institute undergraduate minorHuman-Computer InteractionBS in Statistics & Machine Learning (Dietrich College + School of Computer Science)

Cost

Cost of attendance, per year

$86,812

This is the full yearly cost before any financial aid. What your family would actually pay is in the Financial Aid section. Cost figures are approximate, so confirm current numbers on the college's website.

Tuition only (part of the cost above)

Tuition $66,246^{* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)}

Financial Aid

What families actually paid, by household income

Average for students who received federal aid. Your own figure depends on your family's finances and the aid this school offers you.

Under $30,000: $9,097
$30,001 – $48,000: $6,994
$48,001 – $75,000: $14,468
$75,001 – $110,000: $24,865
Over $110,000: $51,480

College Scorecard (latest.cost.net_price.private.by_income_level.*), 2024

Estimate what your family would pay

Every school is required to publish a net price calculator. It asks about your family's finances and returns an estimate for you specifically, which is worth more than any average on this page. Your school counselor and the college's financial aid office can also help.

Scholarships and merit aid

CMU's merit scholarships are limited to a handful of specific programs, so most admitted students should plan around need-based aid rather than count on a merit award.

Campus

Campus Fit

Location

Pittsburgh, PA· Urban

Undergraduates

7,377

Setting

Urban

In a fraternity or sorority

Not publicly reported

Living on campus

Not publicly reported

*College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) · 2024

†Common App requirements grid · 2026-27

Suggest a correction for this page