Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh
Indiana, United States of America | Estd in 1967 | Private University
THE Rank : 28 | QS Rank : 52
About Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research institute in Pittsburgh, USA. The institution was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie and was previously named the Carnegie Technical School. The university offers 200+ academic programmes across its seven colleges including the College of Engineering, the School of Computer Science, and the Tepper School of Business to name a few. CMU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and is also an essential part of the Association of American Universities.
Carnegie Mellon University is one of the top private research universities and has its place among the top 100 universities in the world. Several courses at the university are among the top 100 subjects list of the world as per the rankings given by the US News and World Report, 2023. Some of Carnegie Mellon University’s popular courses include computer science, artificial intelligence, gaming, engineering, business and finance, data analytics, etc. CMU has produced 20 Nobel Laureates and several other awardees and scholars in various fields.
Carnegie Mellon University’s acceptance rate is approximately 14% which shows that the admittance of international students to CMU is extremely competitive. Carnegie Mellon University’s entry requirements for international students require a GPA of more than 3.0-3.5 in class 12th and a bachelor’s for most courses. The nearest application deadline to apply for undergraduate admission is January 3, 2024, whereas it varies for graduate programmes.
Carnegie Mellon University’s accepted English proficiency tests are TOEFL iBT, Duolingo English Test (DET), PTE Academic, IELTS Academic, etc. Other standardised tests accepted by CMU are ACT, SAT, and GRE, along with LORs and Academic Transcripts as supporting documents.
CMU is home to 14,000+ students including 6,700 international students representing more than 125 countries. Carnegie Mellon University’s main campus is situated in Pittsburgh over an area of 150 acres. The university also has international campuses in Qatar and Rwanda, Africa. Pittsburgh is known as a hub for technology and entrepreneurship and provides amazing campus facilities and experience.
Latest deadline at Carnegie Mellon University
The application dates for admissions might vary according to the intake a candidate is applying for in the year.
- Early decision application deadline: November 1
- Regular decision application deadline: January 3
- Early decision application deadline: January 3
Does Carnegie Mellon waive application fee?
Students who meet the criteria for financial need provided on the Common Application are eligible for fee exemptions from Carnegie Mellon University. So applicants are required to submit proof of financial status to the university, and in the event that the university also waives the fee for merit-based students,.
Also Read: Benefits of studying in the USA.
Carnegie Mellon University Highlights
- Domestic: 5646
- International: 1412
Carnegie Mellon University Ranking and Stats
Carnegie Mellon University is among the top 100 universities in the world. It ranked at number 52 in the QS World University Rankings, and number 124 in the QS WUR Ranking By Subject. Carnegie Mellon University's ranking in the Times Higher Education Report 2024 is 24 which makes it one of the top 50 universities in the world. CMU has ranked one place ahead of the University of Washington (25th) in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024.
US News and World Report, 2024 has placed the university at 24th out of 439 National Universities in the US. The university has also ranked 8th best in the Undergraduate Engineering Programmes. Some of CMU’s subject-wise rankings are given below.
Carnegie Mellon University Subject Rankings by the US News and World Report, 2023
Courses/Subjects | World Rankings |
Artificial Intelligence | 1 |
Software Engineering | 1 |
Computer Science | 2 |
Game/Simulation Development | 2 |
Biocomputing/Bioinformatics/Biotechnology | 3 |
Business Programmes | 7 |
Environmental / Environmental Health | 7 |
Finance | 9 |
Economics | 20 |
Mathematics | 20 |
Physics | 28 |
Is Carnegie Mellon a prestigious university?
Carnegie Mellon is considered as one of the prestigious university because because it is a famous private research university comprising 14,000 freshmen from throughout the entire world that is situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is a good choice for students seeking admission to a reputable university with a wide range of academic programmes, a vibrant campus life, and a strong alumni network.
Parametric Score and Ranking 2024
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Carnegie Mellon University Courses
Carnegie Mellon University offers 80 majors and over 90 minors in undergraduate and graduate programmes across its seven schools and colleges. The university also offers online programmes. Some of Carnegie Mellon University’s popular courses include computer science, electrical and electronics engineering, business programmes, economics, gaming programmes, data analytics, and others. A number of these programmes have been in the top positions by various ranking authorities such as the QS and the US News and World Report.
What majors is Carnegie Mellon known for?
The well-known majors at Carnegie Mellon University are Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Business, Management, Science, Mechanical Engineering, Statistics, Chemical Engineering. Also the university has a strong alumni network that can offer students guidance and support.
Accreditations
Carnegie Mellon University Fees
Carnegie Mellon University Cost Of Living
Carnegie Mellon University tuition fees for international students are 62,260 USD (INR 51,92,577) for most undergraduate courses. Whereas, tuition fees for the graduate programme are specific to each school and can be checked on the graduate tuition fee page of the university. The tuition fee is charged at the rate of 865 USD (cost per unit credit hour), and the minimum credit requirement to complete the full-time study in the bachelor’s programme is 180 credits, and for master’s programmes is 120 credits.
Is it expensive to study at Carnegie Mellon University?
Carnegie Mellon University is a private university in the US and is quite expensive. Its tuition fees for most academic programmes are much higher than the national average. As per CMU’s official estimates, the total cost of attendance for an international undergraduate student is around 85,000 USD while staying at the campus accommodation which is mandatory for all incoming first-year students. The off-campus housing expense is estimated at $8,900. The actual cost of living may vary with the lifestyle preferences and financial status of the students. The estimated cost of attendance for international students is mentioned in the table below.
Carnegie Mellon University Cost of living for international students - UG
Items | Expenses in USD |
Tuition | 62,260 |
Orientation Fee (fall semester only) | 555 |
Activity Fee | 288 |
Transportation Fee | 256 |
Technology Fee | 460 |
Living Expenses - Housing | 10,400 |
Living Expenses - Food | 7,068 |
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, Equipment | 1,000 |
Miscellaneous | 1,400 |
Total | $83,697 |
Source: Official Website
Carnegie Mellon University Admission and Application
Carnegie Mellon University's acceptance rate is approximately 14% (unofficial sources), which shows that the university’s admission criteria are extremely selective and difficult. The university is among the 4% of the most difficult universities in the US to gain admission. Applicants can apply to CMU through Common Application for both undergraduate and graduate programmes.
How to Apply to Carnegie Mellon University?
Applicants can apply to CMU using its Common Application for every academic programme. Applicants must explore the degree courses and check their academic requirements before the application the steps for which are given below.
Visit the university’s website at cmu.edu.
Click on the menu bar and then click on the ‘Admission’ given on the university’s homepage.
The links for undergraduate and graduate admissions will appear.
Explore the courses under the interested degree programmes.
Click on the ‘Apply’ button on the top right of the Undergraduate Admission page.
Now click on the Apply Now button and the common application portal will open.
Register as a new user and the login credentials will be sent via registered mail.
Use the credentials to log into the portal and fill out the application.
Upload the required documents (scanned and PDF), pay the application fee, and submit.
Applicants will be informed about the status of their application and admission through email from the university.
Application Fees of Carnegie Mellon University
Applicants have to pay an application fee of 75 USD for Undergraduate programmes, whereas the application fee for Graduate programmes is specific to each Graduate School.
Carnegie Mellon University Application Deadlines
Particulars | Deadlines |
Undergraduate Early Decision | January 3, 2024 |
Undergraduate Regular Decision | January 3, 2024 |
Regular Decision for Schools of Drama and Music (UG) | December 1, 2023 |
School of Computer Science (Graduate) | December 13, 2023 |
Tepper School of Business (Graduate) | January 21, 2024 |
Documents required for Carnegie Mellon University admission
Foreign students seeking admission to Carnegie Mellon University shall submit the following documents in the order outlined below:
Common Application form
Official High School Transcript
Required Standardised Testing Official Score Reports.
Secondary School Counselor Evaluation
LOR- Letter of Recommendation
Common Application Essay
Common Application Writing Supplement
Portfolio if applying to the College of Fine Arts
Carnegie Mellon University Scholarship
Carnegie Mellon University offers various funding options for international students such as scholarships and bursaries based on merit and financial needs, however, financial aid is only available to US citizens and permanent residents. CMU provides several funding resources for international students such as International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search ( at www.iefa.org) and the International Scholarship Search (at www.internationalscholarships.com).
These websites provide all the information regarding scholarships, their application, eligibility, etc. Applicants can use these resources to fund their education and stay in the US, and at the same time can also check for other scholarships in the US as well. Some of the scholarships available to Indian students at Carnegie Mellon University are,
Carnegie Mellon University Scholarships for International Students
GyanDhan Scholarship | GyanDhan Postgraduate Scholarship |
Study a Bachelor’s in the USA Scholarship | Global Excellence Scholarship |
Freshman Merit Award | Maroon Global Excellence Scholarship |
Carnegie Mellon University Eligibility
Carnegie Mellon University's eligibility criteria are course-specific. Applicants can check their eligibility under their selected degree course or graduate school. However, the general eligibility for Indian applicants is listed below.
Applicant must be a minimum of 17 years of age.
Must have completed Senior Secondary School (class 12th) for admission to UG programmes.
A 3 or 4- year bachelor's degree from a recognised university is required for bachelor’s programmes.
SAT or ACT requirements are optional (CMU has removed the SAT/ACT requirements for the 2024 Fall Admissions).
GPA or GRE requirements are at the course’s discretion.
English proficiency requirements must be met.
English Language Proficiency Requirements
Applicants who are non-native English speakers must prove their proficiency level to meet the university standards. Carnegie Mellon University's English proficiency requirements can be met by submitting the following tests- TOEFL iBT, Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, and CAE / CPE. The tests must be taken within 2 years before the date of the application submission.
The English proficiency requirements for the Graduate courses are specific to each College or Academic School. Hence, applicants can check the ELP requirements under their selected course for Graduate Studies.
Carnegie Mellon University English Proficiency Requirements for International Students - UG
Tests | Minimum Overall Score |
TOEFL iBT | 102 |
TOEFL Essentials | 11 |
IELTS | 7.5 |
C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | 191 |
Duolingo English Test | 135 |
Carnegie Mellon University Institutional Codes
TOEFL | 2074 |
SAT | 2074 |
ACT | 3534 |
Carnegie Mellon University Campus Facilities
Wifi
The University has a Wi-Fi facility for the students and staff. Academic and industry research has argued for supporting WiFi time-of-flight measurements to improve WiFi localization. The IEEE 802.11-2016 now includes a Fine Time Measurement (FTM) protocol for WiFi ranging, and several WiFi chipsets offer hardware support albeit without fully functional open software.
Library
All students can explore books, articles, research papers, and journals in the library and make use of the resources for their assignments, research etc. The timings of libraries across all campuses are usually 7:30 AM to 12 AM.
Alumni Associations
Alumni of the university have earned top honours in fields across the spectrum, from Nobel Prizes to Academy Awards. There are more than 200,00 alumni who are always ready to help the current students studying at the university. They hold campus events and networking events, as well as talks and workshops that prove to be very helpful for students.
Sports
Carnegie Mellon competes in NCAA Division III athletics as a founding member of the University Athletic Association. The Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation at CMU provides a transformative experience for students, focusing on healthy competitiveness and resilience. The university fields eight men's teams and nine women's teams as the Tartans. They have a Highmark centre for health, wellness and athletes, along with a soccer field, softball field, swimming and diving pool, tennis court, and an outdoor basketball court.
Cafeteria
Dining services are available on campus for all the student apartments and dorms. Carnegie Mellom Cafe serves snacks throughout the evening. If students would prefer eating off-campus, they can check out the Au Bon Pain At Skibo CAFÉ, CIAO BELLA, Burger 412 and many more.
Medical/Hospital
The University Healthcare services are provided to all students of CMU all days of the week. They provide high-quality care to all students and even assist them medically during after-hours and for emergencies.
Carnegie Mellon University International Office Details
Carnegie Mellon University is home to approximately 14,500 students representing 126 countries which includes 6,700+ international students (Fall 2022). The university has 24% international students enrolled in the undergraduate and 65% enrolled in the graduate programmes. CMU’s Office of International Education (OIE) is a dedicated body that supports international students and advices them on various issues such as immigration, academic, social, cultural, accommodation, etc.
The university also provides student exchange programmes and placement opportunities to students in collaboration with various national and international companies and organisations.
Is it hard to get into Carnegie Mellon University?
Carnegie Mellon University’s acceptance rate is approximately 14% as per some unofficial estimates, which shows that the university’s selection criteria are very high which makes it extremely competitive to gain admission at CMU. International applicants need to demonstrate extraordinary academic credentials and excellent skills in extracurricular activities to get into Carnegie Mellon University. International students can contact CMU at the given details.
Address: 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Phone No. 412-268-5231
Email: oie@andrew.cmu.edu.
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FAQ's
Carnegie Mellon University is a top 100 university in the world and is known as one of the top-ranked universities. The university is known for its academic excellence in the fields of engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, gaming, arts and drama, and business programmes. CMU is highly reputed for its research advancements and amazing placement opportunities. The university is also the recipient of several prestigious awards and honours including the Nobel Prize, Emmy Awards, Academy Awards, and much more. Overall, Carnegie Mellon is a well-known university and highly sought after by students from across the world for so many excellencies it offers.
Carnegie Mellon University is one of the top private research universities in the USA that offers expensive education. The tuition fees at CMU are much higher than the national average, and even the living costs are not very feasible. On average, an international undergraduate student can expect to spend around 85,000 USD, which shows that it is quite expensive to study at Carnegie Mellon University.
Carnegie Mellon University is among the leading institutions in the world that have very high academic standards. The university admission criteria are extremely selective and competitive with an acceptance rate of only 14%. The university’s GPA requirements may vary with the study programmes but most courses require a GPA of more than 3.0 on a 4-point scale. Looking at the university’s admission rates, the applicants are required to have extraordinary academic credentials to have their chances of admission.
Carnegie Mellon is among the top 100 universities in the world and the top 30 universities in the US. It is a private research university and ranked 52nd in the QS and 24th in THE 2024 rankings. The university offers numerous top-rated courses and attracts major companies like Google, Intel, and Uber to provide its students with amazing placement opportunities.
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