Carnegie Mellon University Acceptance Rate 2024

Admission to Carnegie University is quite competitive. In addition, fewer seats were available for the Class of 2025 as a result of more admitted students than typical delaying their enrollment in the previous cycle. In light of the pandemic, several applicants from the previous year even chose not to matriculate at all. Rather, they decided to take a year off before reapplying to their top universities. Lastly, despite a 2% increase in the total number of applicants, there has been an 11% increase in applications submitted through the Common App, indicating that students are still applying to an increasing number of universities (a pattern seen also in the UC application system). For the academic year 2023–24, Carnegie Mellon University acceptance rate is approximately 11%, indicating that admission is less selective. Carnegie Mellon University acceptance rate out of state is also 11%, making admissions highly competitive for international students.

Latest About Carnegie Mellon University Acceptance Rate 

Admission to Carnegie Mellon University is very competitive. Out of 26,189 applicants, just 17.5% of students were accepted for the Class of 2025. And almost all of these admitted pupils had remarkably impressive academic records. The average SAT score for applicants to Carnegie Mellon is between 1490 and 1570, and the average ACT score is between 34 and 35. Carnegie Mellon's standard admissions application date is January 3. 51% of students claim that they had the impression that the institution was interested in them as applicants during the admissions process. Sixty-eight percent of students believe they were assessed as individuals during the admissions process, rather than just as a collection of data.  Carnegie Mellon University also maintains strong industry connections and memberships.

What Is Carnegie Mellon University Acceptance Rate?

According to US News and World Report, the Carnegie Mellon University acceptance rate is 11%. This means only 11 out of 100 applications are accepted by the University. Of the applicants who submitted test results to Carnegie Mellon University, half had an ACT score of 34 or a SAT score between 1490 and 1570. Nonetheless, 25% of candidates who were accepted had scores that were higher than these ranges, and 25% had scores that were lower. Carnegie Mellon University accepts applications through January 1.

Carnegie Mellon University computer science acceptance rate is 5.2%, making the University more selective than Yale, Harvard and Princeton. Carnegie Mellon University transfer acceptance rate is 7.26%, which is highly competitive. 

Carnegie Mellon University Acceptance Rate for International Student

The Carnegie Mellon University acceptance rate for international students is approximately 11%, indicating a high level of competition for admission. To understand what is the acceptance rate for Carnegie Mellon University, international students make up about 20% of Carnegie Mellon's graduate and undergraduate student body. There are about 450 international undergraduate students enrolled. The Office of International Education at Carnegie Mellon assists foreign students with their social and academic adjustment to Carnegie Mellon and the United States as well as educating them on their rights and obligations regarding immigration. A mandatory orientation program for international students is arranged by the office, and it starts one day before the orientation for first-year students, among other events. It is significant to remember that financial aid is not available to international students. They are able to apply for outside scholarships, nevertheless.

Carnegie Mellon University Acceptance Rate for Graduates

Admission in Carnegie Mellon University is highly competitive for graduate applicants, as the acceptance rate is only 11%. Global research university Carnegie Mellon University is proud of its history of providing excellent graduate and undergraduate instruction and research. Regarding graduate admissions, CMU boasts master's and doctorate programs housed among seven nationally acclaimed schools and colleges. Numerous interdisciplinary programs and online courses are also available at CMU. Furthermore, CMU is an international institution with over 20 research collaborations, over a dozen degree-granting locations, and more.

Carnegie Mellon University Acceptance Rate for Undergraduates

For many aspiring undergrads, there's no better way to discover your fit than by visiting the campus. For high school students, the Office of Undergraduate Admission hosts programs both on and off campus. The goal of the admissions process is to identify a diverse, exceptionally talented undergraduate population with high expectations for success at Carnegie Mellon. Your high school talent and/or potential will play a big part in CMU's admission decision if you're applying to academic programs because it's the most meaningful indicator of your drive and aptitude.  CMU closely monitors the level of rigor in your program, as well as the grades and work you have completed. CMU wants to know that you have pushed yourself in the context of your secondary education. Your artistic achievement will, depending on the program, either be the primary consideration or a major consideration in the admissions decision.

Carnegie Mellon University Acceptance Rate Trends (Last 5 Years)

Factors Influencing Carnegie Mellon University Acceptance Rate

The first-year class at Carnegie Mellon is chosen from a sizable pool of highly talented applicants. Because computations are unable to account for all the elements that CMU takes into consideration when making admissions choices, the university does not employ them to determine who gets admitted. No one grade, factor, score, or activity will determine whether you are admitted to Carnegie Mellon or not. CMU takes great effort to make fair, thorough, and sensitive admission choices, treating each candidate as a person. Students that can thrive at Carnegie Mellon while utilizing everything the university has to offer are of interest to CMU.

Carnegie Mellon's key competencies and values—diversey, equity, inclusiveness, collaboration, communication, community participation, care for others, self-directed learning, and critical thinking—are reflected in the admissions process at CMU. It is advised by CMU that you consider innovative ways to demonstrate these qualities via your experiences both inside and outside of the classroom. They also advise you to think about how to communicate your goals and experiences so the admissions committee can get to know you better as a candidate, learner, and person in addition to your resume.

 The admissions process at CMU is intended to identify a diverse, exceptionally brilliant undergraduate student body with high expectations for success at Carnegie Mellon. Your high school talent and/or potential, if you're applying to academic programs, will play a big part in our admission decision as it's the most meaningful indicator of your drive and aptitude. CMU closely monitors the rigor of your curriculum, your grades, and the quality of your completed work.

How to Improve Your Chances of Admission at Carnegie Mellon University

Still, there are choices you can make to put yourself in the best possible position to submit a profile that highlights your unique experience and scores highly on a number of CMU's requirements:

• Make arrangements in advance to enroll in the most difficult classes your school (and beyond) offers.
• Show off your skills or interests by exploring them in novel ways and utilizing them to build relationships with other groups.
• If you want to discover more about Pittsburgh and CMU culture, you can watch YouTube vloggers who share their experiences there, follow well-known cultural institutions on social media, and sign up for mailing lists about upcoming events. 
• Since you are being deliberate about your selection, you are more likely to accept an offer of admission if you can honestly articulate to the university how a suburban campus atmosphere will best suit you as a student and person.
• Look into the resources, events, activities, traditions, and programs that CMU is proud to provide; try to talk to current students about their experiences.
• Strive for tangible challenges in your social, professional, and intellectual spheres.
• To make your additional essays as interesting and memorable as possible, take your time while writing and editing them. Do extensive study and give careful thought to which of your communities has influenced you the most.
• Investigate your interests outside of the classroom, preferably via research or other initiatives that demonstrate your engagement with challenging concepts or issues.
• Make contact with CMU admissions personnel who are in your area or at your school, and ask them pertinent questions about how your profile fits the university.

Comparing Carnegie Mellon University Acceptance Rate to Other Similar Universities

Regardless of ranking category, the 10 colleges and universities listed here are among the most selective, with the lowest acceptance rates of any undergraduate institutions that U.S. News polled. This list is based on the fall 2022 incoming class: