School Profile

Carnegie Mellon University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Pittsburgh, PA

$57,560

Avg tuition

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About Carnegie Mellon University

School Type: Private

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Military Friendly: YesMilitary-friendly schools are Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, offer the Yellow Ribbon Program, and have a dedicated point of contact to support veterans, military service members, and their families. Explore our college guide for service members and veterans to learn more.

Carnegie Mellon University is a medium-sized private university located on an urban campus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,932, and admissions are extremely selective, with an acceptance rate of 14%. The university offers 138 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 93%, and a student-faculty ratio of 5:1. Tuition and fees for students are $57,560.

BestColleges.com

Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a highly selective acceptance rate.

This school is very selective about its students. Selective schools welcome 1-14% of all applicants.

14% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

Students remain enrolled in this school at a higher rate than other schools.

This typically means students are happy with their school selection and wish to continue their education there.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

97% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.

Graduation Rate Insight

Students graduate from this school at a higher rate than other schools.

This is typically an indication of a school's quality and means most students finish their degree in a timely manner.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

93% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Considered (not required)

High school transcript Required

High school rank Considered (not required)

Letter of recommendation Required

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

Students who attend this school typically have higher standardized test scores than students at other schools.

While test scores can be an important aspect of college applications, schools determine admission based on several factors, and these test scores are only a suggested range.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 33-35

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1480-1560

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

The student-to-faculty ratio at this school is lower than other schools.

This means there are more faculty for each student, which can create an opportunity for more individualized attention and support in your studies.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

15k

Students enrolled

31%

Online student enrollment

5:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

Non-U.S. Citizen

40%

White

21%

Asian

21%

Unknown

6%

Hispanic

6%

Black

3%

Two or more races

3%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

43%

Socio-economic diversity

14% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

10

Total Online Enrollment

4,666

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

97% On-campus

3% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's X Bold Not offered

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 25% online

Master's Check Bold 6% online

Doctorate Check Bold 1% online

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $57,560 $57,560
Graduate $46,441 $46,441

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,000
On-campus room and board $16,150
On-campus other expenses $1,400
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $14,340
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $1,400
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $1,400

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $76,110 $76,110
Off-campus without family $74,300 $74,300
Off-campus with family $59,960 $59,960

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

14%

State Grant Aid

2%

Institution Grant Aid

49%

Pell Grant

14%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $7,067
State Grant Aid $3,248
Institution Grant Aid $37,442
Pell Grant Aid $5,193

Financial Outlook

$22k

Average student debt after graduation

$84k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division III with football

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming Diving
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • All Track Combined

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.

1

Architecture And Related Services

BA

MA

DOC

2

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies

BA

MA

DOC

3

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

4

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

5

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

6

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

7

Engineering Technologies/Technicians

BA

MA

DOC

8

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

9

Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians

BA

MA

DOC

10

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

11

Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

12

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

13

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

14

Health Professions And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

15

History

BA

MA

DOC

16

History

BA

MA

DOC

17

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

18

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

19

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

BA

MA

DOC

20

Natural Resources And Conservation

BA

MA

DOC

21

Philosophy And Religious Studies

BA

MA

DOC

22

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

23

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

24

Public Administration And Social Service Professions

BA

MA

DOC

25

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

26

Visual And Performing Arts

BA

MA

DOC

Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships

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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.