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 Reviews

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”
Write a review, Enter to win $1,000 Scholarship

  • 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.

Carnegie Mellon University REVIEWS

What's your overall opinion of Carnegie Mellon University?

50 Students rated Carnegie Mellon University

Tim - 12/27/2024

Carnegie Mellon College of Fine Arts wasn’t what I expected and it turned out to be quite disappointing. I thought from the advertisements that it would be a great school for integrating art and technology, but the program is very old fashioned and doesn’t offer any real value to students with a computer science/engineering interest who want to be artists. One would think it would be a good program for this but the faculty are mostly critical theorists and art historians who talk about gender theory, technology is really not even remotely relevant to them. Whatever, but it wasn’t the right fit, so I transferred. Most of my credits were accepted elsewhere so at least I got out early enough.

Manav - 11/29/2024

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Carnegie Mellon University's campus. My parents and I were lucky to have visited during the springtime when all the students were still on campus for a guided tour with some student ambassadors. We got to see all the students active on campus and they definitely looked like they enjoyed themselves. During the tour, the tour guides were welcoming and did a great job explaining all the aspects of the campus. One thing I thought was great was the fact that CMU has an entire separate School of Computer Science that has its own funding, rather than what most colleges have, which is where they stick it in engineering without any other consideration. Speaking of engineering, I also enjoyed walking through the College of Engineering and seeing all the cool gadgets and other technologies within. The campus was also nice and peaceful to walk around yet still lively in the hubs of student activity. The city of Pittsburgh was also nice, just a short walk away from campus, which was positioned nearby the University of Pittsburgh as well.

Courtney - 05/16/2024

Carnegie Mellon University it a school that I did not expect to enjoy as much as I do. The size of campus and classes are perfect for me and I never feel overwhelmed or as though my professors are inaccessible. I will say, at the university there is an intense grind-culture and people here develop unhealthy attitudes towards work-life balance in more stem oriented pathways. I have found Carnegie Mellon to have great on-campus dining facilities (while this may not be a shared opinion with my other peers). Pittsburgh is the perfect city for a college student to live. While the Pittsburgh winter is never ending, the weather is more often than not really nice and the school does an excellent job managing snow and ice.

Sanwi - 04/15/2024

It's a very vigorous school, but with the right people it becomes not only a good educational opportunity but a fun place to attend. Housing is guaranteed and the Pitt is nearby if people want to participate in a more social scene. Also, the Spring Carnival is cool.

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.

  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.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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