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Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University admits 12 of every 100 applicants — a reach school for nearly everyone applying to Carnegie Mellon University, whatever the rest of the profile says.
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Carnegie Mellon University sits in Pittsburgh proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. International students are a visible presence here — 19.1% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $268,121 four years out. Faculty pay averages $167,664 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 7,304 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 98% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1500 and 1570 — above the PA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Carnegie Mellon University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Carnegie Mellon University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1500–1570 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Carnegie Mellon University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 730 | 750 | 770 |
| SAT Math | 770 | 790 | 800 |
| ACT Composite | 34 | 35 | 35 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Carnegie Mellon University received 33,707 applications and admitted 3,843 (11.4%), with 1,708 enrolling.
How Carnegie Mellon University compares
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pennsylvania median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 11.7% | 82% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $66,246 | $33,730 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $114,862 | $62,101 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Carnegie Mellon University student earns $114,862 — 85% above the Pennsylvania median of $62,101 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Carnegie Mellon University lists tuition at $66,246 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Carnegie Mellon University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $66,246 as the ceiling, not the bill.
Carnegie Mellon University enrolls 7,304 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Carnegie Mellon University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
94.1% of Carnegie Mellon University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 39.3 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $66,246 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Carnegie Mellon University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $268,121 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $250,168 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $187,437 |
| Cognitive Science | $162,106 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $160,783 |
| Statistics | $156,743 |
| Systems Science and Theory | $146,929 |
| Mathematics and Statistics, Other | $145,741 |
| Economics | $144,886 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $138,588 |
| Materials Sciences | $119,715 |
| Chemical Engineering | $110,378 |
| Engineering, General | $110,208 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $109,648 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $105,623 |
| Civil Engineering | $105,199 |
| Psychology, General | $82,433 |
| Architecture | $73,439 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $71,205 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $62,027 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $53,726 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $40,073 |
Median earnings for these 22 Carnegie Mellon University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $114,862 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 69 additional Carnegie Mellon University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Carnegie Mellon University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1500–1570 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 11.7% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Carnegie Mellon University's acceptance rate?
11.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 3,843 admitted from 33,707 applicants.
How much does Carnegie Mellon University cost?
At Carnegie Mellon University, published tuition is $66,246 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Carnegie Mellon University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Carnegie Mellon University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $114,862 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Pennsylvania
- Haverford College — 12.4% admitted
- University of Pennsylvania — 5.4% admitted
- Swarthmore College — 7.5% admitted
- Carlow University — 87% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.