Carnegie Mellon University

It is extremely difficult to get into Carnegie Mellon University. The acceptance rate at Carnegie Mellon University is 11%. In 2023, just 3,873 out of the 34,261 students who applied were accepted.

If you are planning on applying to Carnegie Mellon University, the regular decision application deadline is January 1 and the fee for the application is $75.

Students who submit their applications to Carnegie Mellon University for fall should hear back from Carnegie Mellon University by April 1.

Carnegie Mellon University Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of Carnegie Mellon University's admissions stats.

Carnegie Mellon University 2023	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.9
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	90.1%
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	50.5%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	19.7%
Waitlist	Yes

Carnegie Mellon University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Carnegie Mellon University.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Yes	November 1	December 15
Early Decision II	–	–	–
Early Action	No	–	–
Regular Decision	Yes	1 1	April 1

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Want to Apply Early to Carnegie Mellon University?

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Carnegie Mellon University offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, meaning you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 1 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 15.

Some students apply early to college because they hope it will boost their chances of acceptance. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of acceptance, since it shows your interest in a school.

➡️ Explore a list of some selective colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Carnegie Mellon University Admissions

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Is Carnegie Mellon University Challenging To Get Into?

Getting into Carnegie Mellon is extremely difficult. Carnegie Mellon evaluates applicants carefully based on multiple criteria to decide who to admit, and who to deny or waitlist.

In 2022, Carnegie Mellon accepted 11% of all applicants, about 3,873 from the 34,261 applicants.

Schools that are extremely difficult to get into, like Carnegie Mellon, accept fewer than 30% of all applicants. At least 75% of admitted students have GPAs in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1310 on the SAT or over 29 on the ACT.

Transferring to Carnegie Mellon University

It is extremely difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.

For Students Waitlisted to Carnegie Mellon University

In 2022, Carnegie Mellon University waitlisted 8,986 students and 4,652 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 43 eventually got in.

What's Most Important for Getting Into Carnegie Mellon University?

Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college has a different way of determining which factors are are most important in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the areas where you shine.

Admissions Factors at Carnegie Mellon University

What does Carnegie Mellon University consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Character/Personal Qualities	Very Important
Class Rank	Very Important
Extracurricular Activities	Very Important
Volunteer Work	Very Important
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Application Essay	Important
Racial/Ethnic Status	Important
Recommendation(s)	Important
Talent/Ability	Important
First Generation	Important
Geographical Residence	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
Work Experience	Considered

Make sure to check with Carnegie Mellon University for more information on admission factors.

Carnegie Mellon University Application Requirements

To apply to Carnegie Mellon University, all applicants must submit the following items. Make sure to check in with Carnegie Mellon University's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Other Requirements	–	–	√	audition/portfolio for fine arts
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√	–	–	–
Transcript of High School Record	√	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Carnegie Mellon University?

Students admitted to Carnegie Mellon University have an average unweighted GPA of 3.9.

Out of all students that were admitted, 60.3% submitted a class rank. At Carnegie Mellon University 90.1% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school and 99.5% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Carnegie Mellon University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	49.7%
3.75 and 3.99	39.4%
3.50 and 3.74	8.5%
3.25 and 3.49	2%
3.00 and 3.24	0.4%
2.50 and 2.9	0.1%
2.00 and 2.49	–

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Carnegie Mellon University directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Carnegie Mellon University has a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 50.5% of Carnegie Mellon University's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 19.7% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Carnegie Mellon University?

To be competitive with other Carnegie Mellon University applicants, you should strive to score between 1500 and 1560 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Carnegie Mellon University 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1560 and 25% of scored lower than 1500, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Carnegie Mellon University students scored 800 or higher and 75% of students scored 720 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Carnegie Mellon University students scored 770 or higher, and 75% scored a 720 or higher.

To be most competitive at Carnegie Mellon University, you should strive to earn between 34 and 35 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 35 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Carnegie Mellon University's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 35, and three out of four students scored lower than 35 on the ACT.

A 34 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Carnegie Mellon University students. Only one out of every four students scored below 34.

More Information on Transferring to Carnegie Mellon University

For transfer students, it is extremely difficult to get admitted to Carnegie Mellon University.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is February 15. Applicants should hear back by May 15.

Transfer students can enroll in Carnegie Mellon University during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term

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Carnegie Mellon University Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to Carnegie Mellon University?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Carnegie Mellon University.

Does Carnegie Mellon University accept transfer credits?

✅ Carnegie Mellon University accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does Carnegie Mellon University accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Carnegie Mellon University accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Carnegie Mellon University?

❌ No, Carnegie Mellon University is test optional, so you can make the call whether or not to send your test scores. If you have higher than average scores, you may want to send them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is Carnegie Mellon University's acceptance rate?

✅ Carnegie Mellon University has an acceptance rate of 11%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Carnegie Mellon University?

✅ Carnegie Mellon University offers early decision but the school has not provided an acceptance rate.

Want To Learn More About Carnegie Mellon University?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

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