Can you get into Carnegie Mellon University?
Pittsburgh, PA · Private · 7,304 students Here is the class that got in, and where your numbers land inside it.
Add your GPA, or a test score, and the read appears here. Nothing you type leaves this page.
The admitted class · 2024
What it took to get in
Acceptance rate
11.7%
SAT middle 50%
1500–1570
median 1520
ACT middle 50%
34–35
median 34
Testing
Required
51% submitted an SAT
Graduation rate
93%
within six years
Common App
Accepted
Reported by the college
What Carnegie Mellon University actually reads
Colleges publish which parts of an application they weigh. It is the most useful thing they say about admissions and almost nobody reads it, because knowing that an essay is very important here and class rank is not considered changes where the work should go.
Very important
The parts of an application this school weighs most heavily.
- Grades
- Course rigor
- Essay
- Recommendations
Considered
Looked at, but not decisive on its own.
- Class rank
- Test scores
- Work experience
Not considered
Reported as playing no part in the decision.
- Legacy
From the federal IPEDS admissions survey, 2024. It records whether Carnegie Mellon University considers each factor, but not how heavily, and it does not ask about extracurriculars, character, or demonstrated interest. Where a school publishes its Common Data Set we use that instead.
Deadlines · 2026 cycle
When to apply
- Early DecisionNovember 3, 2026
- Regular DecisionJanuary 5, 2027
Carnegie Mellon University fills part of its class in the early round, where admit rates typically run higher. Early Decision is binding, so it only fits a clear first choice.
Real cost · 2024 data
What families actually pay
The sticker price is $83,654, but almost nobody pays it. Average net price at Carnegie Mellon University by family income, after grants and scholarships:
- Under $30k$9,097
- $30k–$48k$6,994
- $48k–$75k$14,468
- $75k–$110k$24,865
- Over $110k$51,480
U.S. Department of Education data: average net price per year for aided first-time students. Your number depends on your family’s finances.
Keep going
More on Carnegie Mellon University
Harder to get into
About as selective
Common questions
Carnegie Mellon University admissions, answered
What is Carnegie Mellon University's acceptance rate?
Carnegie Mellon University admits 11.7% of applicants (latest reported cycle: 2024).
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon University?
The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1500 and 1570. A score above 1570 clears the 75th percentile; below 1500, the rest of the application has to carry more weight.
Is Carnegie Mellon University test-optional?
No. Carnegie Mellon University requires SAT or ACT scores from first-year applicants for the 2026 cycle.
What does Carnegie Mellon University look for in an application?
Carnegie Mellon University reports that it weighs grades, course rigor, essay, recommendations most heavily. Anything it lists as not considered is worth knowing too, because effort spent there does not count here.
How much does Carnegie Mellon University actually cost?
Sticker price is $83,654, but the average family pays $31,944 after aid. Families earning under $30k pay about $9,097 per year on average.
What Spike does with this
Use the Carnegie Mellon University read in your plan.
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