Carnegie Mellon CMU Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements

Carnegie Mellon University is one of the renowned universities in the USA. It is very competitive to get admission to. The acceptance rate of Carnegie Mellon University (Carnegie Mellon CMU) is 11.3%. This means that only 11 out of every 100 applicants are admitted.

How Competitive are Carnegie Mellon University Admissions?

Highly Competitive: Applicants need strong academics and extracurriculars.
GPA, SAT/ACT, and AP/IB courses significantly impact admission chances.
A holistic review considers essays, recommendations, and leadership roles.

Carnegie Mellon University Admission Competitiveness

With one of the lowest acceptance rates in the US, you need to be excellent in every area to get selected. However, since the acceptance rate is not below 10%, you still have a chance if your GPA isn't perfect. You can make up for a GPA deficiency by scoring high on the SAT, and ACT, and taking IB or AP courses. Meeting Carnegie Mellon University's GPA and standardized test (SAT/ACT) requirements is crucial, as failing to do so may prevent your application from moving forward. These requirements act as automatic filters, so meeting them is vital; failing to do so makes your chance of getting in nearly zero.

Additionally, a well-written letter of recommendation, your participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, and your interpersonal communication skills can enhance your admission chances.

Carnegie Mellon University Admission Requirements

Carnegie Mellon CMU GPA Requirement

The average GPA of the admitted students at Carnegie Mellon CMU is 3.92. It means that Carnegie Mellon CMU is extremely selective in terms of the GPA. (Please note that most schools report a weighted GPA, which is out of 4.0. However, some schools may use unweighted GPAs. For exact information, contact the school admission staff).

With an average GPA of 3.92, Carnegie Mellon CMU requires you to be at the top of your class. You need to score straight A's in all classes to have good chances of admission. Additionally, you must take AP or IB courses to demonstrate your academic ability. More specifically, your AP and IB courses must be related to the area of your selected course of study. For example, if you are planning a career in engineering or IT, courses related to mathematics, calculus, and physics will help you.

If your GPA is less than 3.92 and higher than 3.62 then you need higher SAT or ACT scores to compensate. You need a minimum of 3.52 GPA, to secure admission at Carnegie Mellon CMU. Below this, the chances of admission will be very slim.

Can I Get Into Carnegie Mellon CMU Without SAT Or ACT?: Carnegie Mellon University considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. Hence you are required to plan early and appear in upcoming SAT / ACT tests. Check the schedule of the test and plan accordingly. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students, as given below.

Carnegie Mellon University (Carnegie Mellon CMU) SAT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for SAT and ACT testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them. The test score policy is already mentioned.

Carnegie Mellon University Average SAT Score: 1546
The average SAT score of the admitted students at Carnegie Mellon University is 1546 on the 1600 SAT scale.

Carnegie Mellon University SAT Competitiveness

This score makes it Extremely Competitive for SAT test scores. You need to do extremely well to score 1546 on the SAT.
If your score is below 1490, consider retaking the SAT to improve your chances of admission to Carnegie Mellon CMU. It is not strange to appear multiple times for the SAT to improve scores. Colleges don’t mind if you have appeared multiple times, but not more than 5 times.

Carnegie Mellon University SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
SAT Math	785	770	800
SAT Reading	745	720	770
SAT Composite	1546	1490	1570

It means that if you have scored less than 1490 then you are below most of the admitted students at Carnegie Mellon CMU and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1570 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students. View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1550

Can I get into Carnegie Mellon University (Carnegie Mellon CMU) with a 1550 SAT?

With a 1550 SAT Score, your chances of admission at Carnegie Mellon University (Carnegie Mellon CMU) are good but the admission staff at Carnegie Mellon CMU tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.

Carnegie Mellon University (Carnegie Mellon CMU) ACT Requirements

The average ACT Score at Carnegie Mellon CMU is 35.

Carnegie Mellon University ACT Competitiveness

This score makes Carnegie Mellon University Extremely Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do extremely well to score 35 on the ACT.

Carnegie Mellon University ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
ACT Math	35	34	35
ACT English	35	33	36
ACT Composite	35	34	35

Can I get into Carnegie Mellon University with a 35 ACT?

With a 35 ACT Score, your chances of admission at Carnegie Mellon University are good but the admission staff does not check your ACT Score only. The College Admission process tests your all-around personality and academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission.

SAT Vs ACT: Which score to send

You can compare your scores in SAT and ACT to the average SAT and ACT Scores of the admitted students at Carnegie Mellon University. More importantly, comparing your scores with the 25th and 75th percentiles of SAT and ACT scores will give you a better understanding of where you stand. If your score on the SAT is near the 75th percentile SAT score, then you must send your SAT score. If your ACT score is near the 75th percentile, then you must send your ACT Score.

But there is more, if both of your scores are in the same range, then it is better to send an ACT Score, as in the case of ACT, you can control which score to send as opposed to SAT.

Here is how: When sending the ACT Score, you can decide which score you want to send to the colleges. You could take 8 ACT tests, and only send your highest one. This is not the case with the SAT, where your score report mentions all of your attempts.

View a list of all colleges with an average ACT score of 35.

Carnegie Mellon CMU Profile

Name: Carnegie Mellon University (Carnegie Mellon CMU)

City: Pittsburgh

URL: www.cmu.edu/

State: Pennsylvania

Type: Non-Profit Private

Zip: 15213-3890

Campus: Main

Accredited by: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)

Does a degree from Carnegie Mellon CMU Worth It?

Getting into Carnegie Mellon CMU can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. Carnegie Mellon CMU offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision. Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at Carnegie Mellon CMU is USD: 81652.61 and unemployment rate is 2.98%.

How much does a degree from Carnegie Mellon CMU Cost?

The average annual cost of the degree at Carnegie Mellon University is USD: 77465. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Carnegie Mellon University is much less than this.

How can I get a scholarship?

14.54% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 38.6 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Carnegie Mellon CMU and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.

At Carnegie Mellon University, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Carnegie Mellon CMU as your choice in the form.

How much a Carnegie Mellon CMU Graduate make?

The average annual salary of the Carnegie Mellon CMU graduate after 4-6 years of graduation is USD 114862. An average Carnegie Mellon CMU graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4-6 years after graduation).

The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is USD: 40595

Less Competitive Schools

These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Carnegie Mellon University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower than the requirements of Carnegie Mellon University, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Pomona College	Pomona College, CA	1520	34
University of Southern California	University of Southern California, CA	1520	34
University of Chicago	University of Chicago, IL	1532	35
Northwestern University	Northwestern University, IL	1526	34
Bowdoin College	Bowdoin College, ME	1520	34
Washington University in St Louis	Washington University in St Louis, MO	1525	34
Cornell University	Cornell University, NY	1527	34
New York University	New York University, NY	1527	34
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering	Franklin W Olin College of Engineering, MA	1533	35

Equally Competitive Schools

These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Carnegie Mellon University. If your SAT or ACT score are competitive for Carnegie Mellon University, you'll be competitive for these schools also.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Harvey Mudd College	Harvey Mudd College, CA	1539	35
Yale University	Yale University, CT	1547	34
Johns Hopkins University	Johns Hopkins University, MD	1553	35
Harvard University	Harvard University, MA	1553	35
Williams College	Williams College, MA	1540	35

More Competitive Schools

These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Carnegie Mellon University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Yale University	Yale University, CT	1547	34
Johns Hopkins University	Johns Hopkins University, MD	1553	35
Harvard University	Harvard University, MA	1553	35
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA	1560	36
Princeton University	Princeton University, NJ	1546	34

Degree Programs

Bachelor Degree Programs

Full list of All degree programs offered by Carnegie Mellon University.

Data on this page is sourced from IPEDS, College Scorecard's latest data as provided in 2024, US Department of Education's latest 2024 statistics, Institute's official websites and printed material as well as additional publicly available sources.