Can you get into Carnegie Mellon University?
Pittsburgh, PA · Private · 7,304 students Here’s the class that got in. See where your numbers land in it.
Add your GPA, or a test score, and the read appears here. Nothing you type leaves this page.
The admitted class · 2024
Here’s 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 does Carnegie Mellon University actually read?
Colleges publish which parts of an application they weigh. It’s the most useful thing they say about admissions. Almost nobody reads it. Say the essay counts a lot here and class rank doesn’t count at all. That tells you where to put your work.
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 doesn’t ask about extracurriculars, character, or demonstrated interest. Where a school publishes its Common Data Set, Spike uses that instead.
Deadlines · 2026 cycle
When should you apply?
- Early DecisionNovember 3, 2026
- Regular DecisionJanuary 5, 2027
Carnegie Mellon University fills part of its class in the early round. Admit rates there typically run higher. Early Decision is binding. It only fits a clear first choice.
Real cost · 2024 data
What do families actually pay?
The sticker price is $83,654. Almost nobody pays it. Here’s what families pay at Carnegie Mellon University by 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 a year for first-time students who got aid. Your own number depends on your family’s finances.
Keep going
Keep reading about Carnegie Mellon University.
Harder to get into
About as selective
Common questions
What do students ask about Carnegie Mellon University?
What’s 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 your application has to do more of the work.
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 says it weighs grades, course rigor, essay, recommendations most heavily. What it lists as not considered is worth knowing too. Work you put there doesn’t count here.
How much does Carnegie Mellon University actually cost?
The sticker price is $83,654. The average family pays $31,944 after aid. Families earning under $30k pay about $9,097 a year on average.
What Spike does with this
Use the Carnegie Mellon University read in your plan.
Spike ties your numbers to your courses, testing, essays, and activities. It does the same for the rest of your college list.
The full counselor launches in November.