About Carnegie Mellon University

Founded in 1900, Carnegie Mellon University. is a Private college. Located in Pennsylvania, which is a city setting in Pennsylvania, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 6,283 full time undergraduate students, and 6,975 full time graduate students.

The Carnegie Mellon University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 10:1. There are 1169 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Carnegie Mellon University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate21%
Application Deadline1-Nov
Application Fee75
SAT Range1380-1550
ACT Range31-34

Admissions at CMU are considered Most Selective, with ,38% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 7 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

99% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 92% were in the top quarter, and 75% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Carnegie Mellon University.

17%
“We”re apathetic”
35%
“We know about current events and vote”
39%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
8%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
3%
“We save it for the classroom”
12%
“Sometimes, but not often”
40%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
45%
“All the time, including weekends”
2%
“I”m always terrified”
2%
“I only go out in groups”
22%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
73%
“I feel extremely safe”
77%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
22%
“We bought the gear”
1%
“We live for the big game”
4%
“It”s not really our thing”
15%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
43%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
38%
“We”re a very artistic group”
2%
“Haven”t met them”
9%
“Available in class”
56%
“They keep regular office hours”
33%
“They”re always available”
7%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
49%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
42%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
2%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
3%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
23%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
62%
“We only party on weekends”
11%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
16%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
54%
“There might be people who do”
26%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
4%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
17%
“We”re apathetic”
35%
“We know about current events and vote”
39%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
8%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
3%
“We save it for the classroom”
12%
“Sometimes, but not often”
40%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
45%
“All the time, including weekends”
2%
“I”m always terrified”
2%
“I only go out in groups”
22%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
73%
“I feel extremely safe”
77%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
22%
“We bought the gear”
1%
“We live for the big game”
4%
“It”s not really our thing”
15%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
43%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
38%
“We”re a very artistic group”
2%
“Haven”t met them”
9%
“Available in class”
56%
“They keep regular office hours”
33%
“They”re always available”
7%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
49%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
42%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
2%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
3%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
23%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
62%
“We only party on weekends”
11%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
16%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
54%
“There might be people who do”
26%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
4%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

Carnegie Mellon University REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    112 Students rated on-campus housing 3.3 stars. 13 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    82 Students rated off-campus housing 3.5 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    115 Students rated campus food 2.8 stars. 11 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    115 Students rated campus facilities 4 stars. 33 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    113 Students rated class size 4.1 stars. 34 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    115 Students rated school activities 3.8 stars. 33 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    116 Students rated local services 3.8 stars. 32 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    115 Students rated academics 3.9 stars. 42 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of Carnegie Mellon University?

48 Students rated Carnegie Mellon University

Alexandria - 09/06/2023

Carnegie Mellon University is a powerhouse of innovation and academic excellence. The university's commitment to fostering creativity, interdisciplinary learning, and cutting-edge research is truly commendable. With a world-class faculty and a vibrant campus community, Carnegie Mellon provides an environment where students can thrive and make a meaningful impact in their respective fields. Whether you're interested in technology, the arts, or business, Carnegie Mellon offers a diverse range of programs that cater to a wide array of interests. Overall, it's a dynamic institution that prepares its students for success in a rapidly changing world.

Gabriel - 04/05/2023

Great school with highly intelligent peers and faculty

Dave - 07/20/2022

CMU School of Fine Arts was the worst decision I made in my life. Attending there ruined my self esteem and permanently damaged my future. The faculty, specifically Paolo, Angela, and Suzie, are abusive and bully students to display their own power. It was a horrifying and hostile ordeal that caused me to develop long term disabilities of complex PTSD and anxiety. It permanently damaged my physical and mental health. The head, Charlie White, pays a lot to get the program into rankings. But once you’re there, you quickly find out you fell for a bait and switch. The advertisements and rankings don’t match the quality of the education or the facilities. All of the faculty are horrible, untalented and pretentious. I would do anything to go back in time and make a different decision with my life.

Evelyn - 05/21/2022

Overall, CMU is extremely rigorous academically regardless of major. Nevertheless, the professors are generally accommodating and approachable, and have many options for office hours. TAs and fellow classmates are also very helpful, and can sometimes explain things in a more digestible way for students. There are plenty of options for getting involved with research, joining clubs related to your major, etc. It is worth noting, however, that the intensity of academics can often be too overwhelming. Students are constantly talking about schoolwork, worrying about securing an internship/job, or something related to academics. Because of this, it is likely that you'll feel Imposter Syndrome at some point. On top of that, CMU lacks adequate mental health resources for students. For instance, CMU's mental health department, CaPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) has limited hours and doesn't offer 24/7 on-call service for after-hours needs like it claims. If you want to go to college purely for the sake of receiving a top-notch education, but don't have much preference for a good social life, campus food, or facilities, then this is the school for you. But if you are looking for a more well-rounded college experience, then this isn't the school for you.

Carnegie Mellon University FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Carnegie Mellon University?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Carnegie Mellon University is 21%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    Prepare ahead of time and pay attention to how high school teachers enforce different types of learning, and figure out which style of learning works best for you.

    Read all  93 answers
  3. Describe the students at your school.

    Diverse. Interesting. Pretty cool.

    Read all  90 answers
  4. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    One of the most underrated student bodies in the country in terms of intellect. Overall impression is that this is one of the best schools in the country to focus on academics and be thrown into interdisciplinary study. Every student at Carnegie Mellon chooses a specific major in one of the 7 colleges and is required to minor in a college other than the one they are majoring in. This makes every student on campus have a really specific knowledge in their major and an often unrelated and multidisciplinary edge due to the minor requirement. CMU is a great school for students who know what the want before they get to college.

    Read all  89 answers
  5. What are the academics like at your school?

    I know all of my design professors extremely well. They know my name, and I can email them about projects or questions whenever. The students in design are very talented and dedicated, but we aren't a cutthroat class. We don't sabotage each other's work or anything extreme like that. We all critique each others work and help each other succeed. We are actually all best friends which is the best.

    Read all  85 answers
  6. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    Robotics engineering clubs, Formula SAE racing, service organizations and a plethora of business clubs that cover every field of business.

    Read all  74 answers
  7. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    Simply put, CMU students work way too hard.

    Read all  73 answers
  8. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    Yeah, people are geeky and some are socially awkward, but if you are a social person, you will meet other social people. People are geeky in different ways. Some wear capes and play MTG, while others play video games. Some are strange and some are perfectly normal. And yeah, people are smart.

    Read all  73 answers
  9. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    Very diverse group of people which is usually a good thing. A big downfall is that the diversity is frequently overpowered by everyone's awkwardness and that creates a gap. Also the different schools have little to no interaction with each other.

    Read all  42 answers
  10. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    The stereotype in Pittsburgh in the northeast is that everyone at CMU is a bookworm. In general, it is true. People study here a lot, but it's due to the fact that everyone is really invested in what they are studying.

    Read all  23 answers
  11. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Our heart is in the work.

    Read all  21 answers
  12. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    The amazing faculty and wealth of oportunities.

    Read all  18 answers
  13. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    expensive, competitive

    Read all  18 answers
  14. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    Computer Science leader and 7 Economic Laureates

    Read all  17 answers
  15. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    There is not much that I wish I had known before I cam to this school. Having visited this school before, when I came back to start my school year, I was comfortable and knowledgable of the school. During Orientation week, OCs and RAs assist the freshman of their respective dorms to allow the transition to be easier and smoother. However, I cannot say that I knew every single detail of the school before I arrived. I only wish I had known how much the workload was here at this school.

    Read all  16 answers
  16. What's unique about your campus?

    You can be part of different groups and still maintain your unique identity

    Read all  16 answers
  17. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    The type of person that should attend Carnegie Mellon University is somebody who knows what they love and isn't afraid to work hard for it. I am saying this not because I don't believe in searching in colllege, but for other reasons. Each department at CMU is very proud of what they do and excited to teach. Your passion can be fine arts, engineering, computer science, or global studies. If you know what area you love you will find Carnegie Mellon to be very supportive and eye opening.

    Read all  14 answers
  18. What kind of person should attend this school?

    A hard working individual who is looking to go to one of the best schools in a number of fields. They must be willing to work hard, but also must view CMU as a standout institution, not merely as a second choice to some Ivy League school that rejected them. It hurts the spirit if they only come to CMU because they were rejected from every Ivy.

    Read all  13 answers
  19. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    The workload at Carnegie Mellon can be frustrating at times, but if you can stay up on your work, you will be able to succeed.

    Read all  12 answers
  20. Tell us about the sports scene on campus.

    Most of the Carnegie Mellon campus seem oblivious to the fact that there is an athletic department. The truth is, CMU has a very vibrant athletic community. CMU has 16 male and female intercollegiate sports, as well as various club sports and a host of intramurals. CMU is a D3 athletic program in the University Athletic Association. This means that the athletes are not on any scholarship, however, compete at a very high level. The other schools in the UAA conference are Emory, NYU, Brandeis, Univ. of Chicago, Case Western, and Rochester.

    Read all  3 answers
  21. What are your classes like?

    In creative majors, classes tend to be pretty open. Some say it's "just enough rope to hang your GPA with", but I prefer to think of it as room to discover your talents and passion. Deadlines are fixed, but as long as you have something polished then you're free to get it done however you want. This isn't the same for other fields, however. My language classes are intense and give a lot of work, but it's in the name of practice and has led to quick learning.

    Read all  3 answers

Student Body

Students

46%

female

54%

male

6,283

Total Undergrad Enrollment

6,975

Total Grad Students

70%

Out-Of-State

10%

In-State

20%

International

Organizations

279

Student Organizations

14

Fraternities

8

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

36%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
30%
% Black or African-American
5%
% Hispanic/Latino
8%
% White or Caucasian
30%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

55% of students attending Carnegie Mellon University receive some sort of financial aid. 11% were awarded federal grants. While 35% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$52,310

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,000

Books and Supplies

$13,270

Room and Board

66,580

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$17,855
$30 - $48K
$18,849
$48 - $75K
$23,449
$75 - $110K
$32,345
$110K & UP
$46,883

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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