Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburg, PA 15213
Carnegie Mellon University is a private university in PA, founded in 1900 and offers Bachelor’s degrees for undergraduates and Master’s and Doctoral degrees for graduate students. The undergraduate enrollment is 7,073, and the graduate enrollment is 7,116. Carnegie Mellon University is a hyper-selective school, receiving 26,189 applications and accepting 17.3% of applicants. Carnegie Mellon University’s athletics teams compete at the intramural and varsity levels. Additionally, Carnegie Mellon University employs 1,097 full-time instructional staff (82% of whom hold doctorate degrees) and has a 6:1 student to faculty ratio.
Empowerly Score®
89
University Score
- School Performance
- Extracurriculars
- Standardized Tests
- Essays
Empowerly Score®
At Empowerly, we prioritize data to customize our approach to student counseling. College admissions is becoming more selective by the year, so it’s never been more important than now to prepare in advance and give yourself the best chance for success.
Take the Empowerly QuizESSAYS
Applicants applying to Carnegie Mellon University will apply through the Common Application. Applicants will be required to write one personal statement based on a set of prompts within the application and will also be required to answer specific questions pertaining to the university.
Deadlines For Submitting Applications
Early Decision I Application Deadline
November 1st
Early Decision II Application Deadline
January 2nd
Early Admission Application Deadline
January 2nd
Regular Application Deadline
January 2nd
ATTENDANCE FACTORS
- Extracurricular Activities - Important
- Academic GPA - Very Important
- Rigor of Secondary School Record - Very Important
- Volunteer Work - Very Important
- Work Experience - Very Important
Average Acceptance Rate
17.30%
Empowerly Acceptance Rate
25.00%
STUDENT LIFE
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the urban home of Carnegie Mellon University, provides the 140-acre campus with the perfect backdrop of a beautiful green campus in the state’s second-most populous city. The CMU campus has everything students look for in a traditional university, including spacious quads and eclectic buildings that embody its past and present. First-year students have the best opportunities for whatever they choose to pursue, from academics to athletics to extracurricular activities. CMU has several art galleries and other creative spaces, 400 student organizations, and various traditions, all on its own. Thanks to Andrew Carnegie’s Scottish heritage, the school maintains a robust Scottish identity from its Tartan athletic teams to the annual Céilidh homecoming weekend. As a Carnegie Mellon University student, life is all about new experiences with new people and time for self-discovery.
Housing
- 55% of students live on campus
- Guaranteed housing for freshmen
- Freshmen required to live on campus
Carnegie Mellon University requires first-year students to live on campus. CMU housing is designed to meet every student’s life needs by providing support, engaging residents, and making the best of their university experience. First-year students can choose various housing options, such as traditional dorms or apartment-style living, single-gender or coeducational, and unique interest-based alternatives. Twenty residential buildings on campus in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood will be not just the place but also the community they call home. Resident life on the Carnegie Mellon University campus allows students to prepare for classes, share meals with friends, and have a place to chill out after a hectic day. It is no wonder that 65% of students chose to remain in on-campus housing through their undergraduate years.
Life as a Student
As a Carnegie Mellon University student, life begins with academics but continues with life outside the classroom. The school maintains an exceptional 6:1 student to faculty ratio, so 66.6% of classes have fewer than 20 students. It makes collaborating with like-minded, passionate students the rule, not the exception, whether in a studio, lab, or classroom. However, academic life is only part of a first-year student’s life at CMU because campus life offers students a great deal, including student-run media like The Tartan newspaper and theatrical organizations like Scotch’n’Soda. Student organizations cover every particular interest: academic, cultural, political, sports, service, and spiritual. Thanks to Carnegie Mellon University’s diverse and inclusive community, which the school has nourished over the years—everything is possible!
TOP MAJORS
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Statistics
Business
Systems Science and Theory
SERVICES
Health and Safety
- 24-hour trained security on campus
- Late night ride/safe escort service available
Student Services
- Health Center
- Legal Advice
- Psychological Counseling
Athletics
Varsity
Varsity
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Crew
Fencing
Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Rowing
Rugby
Skiing (Downhill)
Soccer
Squah
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Weightlifting
Water Polo
Wrestling
Cross-Country Running
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Crew
Fencing
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Rugby
Skiing (Downhill)
Soccer
Squash
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Weightlifting
Water Polo
Wrestling
Cross-Country Running
Intramural
Intramural
Badminton
Basketball
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Squash
Tennis
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Water Polo
Badminton
Basketball
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Squash
Tennis
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Water Polo
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
Carnegie Mellon University does not provide merit-based scholarships for incoming freshmen students but offers financial aid based on financial need.
*All costs below are estimates and may differ based on your circumstances.
- Tuition - $59,864
- Fees - $1,489
- Room and Fees - $10,000
- Dining - $6,796
- Books and Misc. - $2,400
- Transportation - Varies
- Total Estimated Cost of Attendance - $80,540+
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP / AFFILIATES
HISTORY
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) was founded in 1900 as the Carnegie Technical Schools by successful steel industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who utilized a $1 million donation to establish the technical institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Self-educated himself, Carnegie envisioned the school would serve Pittsburgh’s working-class men and women so that they could learn their trade and additional skills to improve their vocations, lives, and community. For the school he founded, Carnegie proudly stated, “My heart is in the work,” a statement that would become the school’s official motto up to the present day.
The Carnegie Technical Schools initially offered two- and three-year certificates in the arts and engineering disciplines. Because of the demand for baccalaureate programs, though, the school was restructured into the Carnegie Institute of Technology by 1912. It offered a four-year program for students to enroll in, allowing them to earn a bachelor’s degree through its College of Engineering and College of Fine Arts. Thanks to Andrew Carnegie’s generous support, the school continued to expand and stay on the cutting edge of education and hands-on training during the first half of the 20th century; key developments included creating conservatory degree programs in music, drama, and visual arts. By 1919, The Carnegie Institute of Technology was awarded its first doctorate in civil engineering, while 1938 saw the institution of the Carnegie Plan that required science and engineering students to take courses in humanities and social sciences as part of their curriculum. The Carnegie Institute of Technology would merge with the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research in 1967 and operate as Carnegie Mellon University onwards.
Today, Carnegie Mellon University is ranked #25 in National Universities by U.S. News Best Colleges and has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,073 and graduate enrollment of 7,440. With a 15.4% admissions rate, CMU is one of the more competitive private universities in the country. CMU has developed a unique culture that allows first-year students to explore the diverse worlds of academics, extracurriculars, and community to discover themselves. The Carnegie Mellon Tartans compete in NCAA Division III competitions, cheered on by the university’s one-of-a-kind Kiltie Band, dressed in full Scottish regalia at every home football game. Carnegie Mellon University proudly includes an alumnus of 20 Nobel Prize laureates, 13 Turing Award winners, and 10 Academy Award Winners among its affiliates. Notable CMU alumni include award-winning film composer Henry Mancini, Kevlar inventor Stephanie Kwolek, and Java inventor James Gosling.