Carnegie Mellon extended offers to 4,041 students from 36,320 undergraduate applications for the Class of 2027. That puts the overall acceptance rate at 11%. Selectivity varies sharply by unit, from a 7% acceptance rate in the School of Computer Science to a 20% rate in Public Policy and Management.
Key Takeaways
- Carnegie Mellon University's overall undergraduate acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 11%
- The School of Computer Science at CMU had an acceptance rate of 7% for the Class of 2026
- Tepper School of Business acceptance rate for undergraduates in 2023 was approximately 13%
- CMU undergraduate applications received for Fall 2023 totaled 36,320
- Class of 2027 offers extended to 4,041 students
- School of Computer Science received 12,000+ applications for 2023
- Underrepresented minorities make up 28% of undergrads
- 49% of undergraduates are female
- 24% of students are international from 80+ countries
- CMU undergraduate enrollment for Fall 2023 was 7,073 students
- Freshman class size for Class of 2027 is 1,573 students
- School of Computer Science enrolled 500 freshmen in 2023
- Middle 50% SAT for Class of 2027: 1500-1570
- Average GPA of admitted students: 3.91 unweighted
- Middle 50% ACT: 34-36 for admits
With an overall 11% acceptance rate, CMU’s admit process is highly selective, especially in STEM.
Related reading
01 · Category
Acceptance Rates29 stats
01
Carnegie Mellon University's overall undergraduate acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 11%
02
The School of Computer Science at CMU had an acceptance rate of 7% for the Class of 2026
03
Tepper School of Business acceptance rate for undergraduates in 2023 was approximately 13%
04
College of Engineering acceptance rate for Fall 2022 was 12%
05
Mellon College of Science acceptance rate stood at 15% for the Class of 2028
06
School of Design acceptance rate for BDA program was 5% in 2023
07
Dietrich College of Humanities & Social Sciences had a 16% acceptance rate for Fall 2023
08
College of Fine Arts acceptance rate was 18% for the Class of 2027
09
School of Art acceptance rate for 2022-2023 cycle was 10%
10
Drama program acceptance rate at CMU was under 3% for 2023 applicants
11
Architecture program acceptance rate was 12% for Fall 2023
12
School of Music acceptance rate hovered at 14% for 2023
13
Public Policy and Management acceptance rate was 20% for undergraduates in 2022
14
Overall graduate acceptance rate at CMU is around 20% across programs
15
MS in Computer Science acceptance rate is 10% for Fall 2023
16
MBA acceptance rate at Tepper was 28% for 2023 class
17
PhD in Machine Learning acceptance rate is 5%
18
For Class of 2026, acceptance rate was 11.3%
19
Early Decision acceptance rate for Class of 2027 was 13.5%
20
Regular Decision acceptance rate for Class of 2027 was 10.8%
21
International student acceptance rate is 10% overall
22
Female applicant acceptance rate in SCS was 9% for 2023
23
In-state applicant acceptance rate at CMU is 15%
24
Out-of-state acceptance rate is 11%
25
Legacy applicant acceptance rate estimated at 20%
26
Athletic recruit acceptance rate around 50% for select sports
27
Transfer acceptance rate for undergraduates is 7.8%
28
Graduate transfer acceptance rate averages 15%
29
Online program acceptance rate for MS in AI is 25%
Interpretation
Acceptance Rates Interpretation
While the overall acceptance rate presents a formidable gate, Carnegie Mellon’s various colleges have turned specialization into an art form, offering applicants a delightful spectrum of ways to be gently but firmly told "maybe next time."
02 · Category
Applicant Numbers28 stats
01
CMU undergraduate applications received for Fall 2023 totaled 36,320
02
Class of 2027 offers extended to 4,041 students
03
School of Computer Science received 12,000+ applications for 2023
04
Tepper School saw 5,200 undergraduate applications in 2023
05
College of Engineering applications: 10,500 for Fall 2023
06
Mellon College of Science applications numbered 4,800 in 2023
07
School of Design BDA program had 2,100 applicants in 2023
08
Dietrich College applications: 6,200 for 2023 cycle
09
College of Fine Arts received 3,000 applications
10
School of Art applications: 1,500 for 2023
11
Drama program applications exceeded 2,500
12
Architecture undergraduate applications: 900 in 2023
13
School of Music applications: 1,200
14
Heinz College undergrad apps: 1,800 for 2023
15
Graduate applications to CMU total 45,000 annually
16
MS CS program received 8,000 applications for Fall 2023
17
Tepper MBA applications: 2,500 for Class of 2025
18
ML PhD applications: 1,200 per year
19
Early Decision applications for Class of 2027: 4,500
20
Regular Decision apps for Class of 2027: 31,820
21
International applications: 15,000 for undergrad 2023
22
Female applicants to SCS: 3,500 in 2023
23
In-state applications: 2,500
24
Out-of-state apps: 33,820
25
Transfer applications: 1,200 for 2023
26
Waitlist size for Class of 2027: 5,000 students
27
Online MS AI applications: 3,000 in first year
28
PhD applications across engineering: 10,000
Interpretation
Applicant Numbers Interpretation
Carnegie Mellon's admissions statistics reveal a university so intensely sought after that its 36,320 undergraduate hopefuls are essentially competing in a high-stakes academic draft where even the specialized schools have applicant pools larger than most colleges' entire freshman classes.
03 · Category
Demographic Data22 stats
01
Underrepresented minorities make up 28% of undergrads
02
49% of undergraduates are female
03
24% of students are international from 80+ countries
04
Asian American students: 28% of Class of 2027
05
Black/African American: 6% of freshmen class
06
Hispanic/Latino: 10% of undergrad population
07
White students: 29% of total undergrads
08
First-generation college students: 18% of admits
09
Pell Grant recipients: 15% of undergrads
10
LGBTQ+ students: 12% identify as such
11
Veterans enrolled: 150 active
12
Pennsylvania residents: 12% of undergrads
13
Northeast US students: 35% of domestic admits
14
California applicants highest domestic state at 15%
15
China leads international with 40% of intl students
16
India: 15% of international undergrads
17
Female in SCS: 48% of undergrads in 2023
18
Age distribution: 99% under 25 for undergrads
19
Graduate students: 52% female
20
Undergrads from public high schools: 65%
21
Private/independent schools: 35%
22
Rural origin students: 5%
Interpretation
Demographic Data Interpretation
Carnegie Mellon's student body reads less like a monolithic institution and more like a vibrant, carefully composed mosaic, where nearly every statistic challenges a stereotype and proves that brilliance thrives in spectacular diversity.
More related reading
04 · Category
Enrollment Data28 stats
01
CMU undergraduate enrollment for Fall 2023 was 7,073 students
02
Freshman class size for Class of 2027 is 1,573 students
03
School of Computer Science enrolled 500 freshmen in 2023
04
Tepper School freshman enrollment: 220 for Fall 2023
05
College of Engineering new undergrads: 650 in 2023
06
Mellon College of Science freshmen: 300
07
School of Design BDA enrollment: 80 students
08
Dietrich College freshmen: 400
09
College of Fine Arts new students: 150
10
School of Art undergrad enrollment growth to 120 freshmen
11
Drama program enrolled 25 new students
12
Architecture freshmen: 60
13
School of Music new undergrads: 50
14
Heinz College undergrad enrollment: 100 freshmen
15
Total graduate enrollment at CMU: 8,500 students
16
MS CS program enrolled 250 students for Fall 2023
17
Tepper MBA class size: 175 for 2025
18
ML PhD incoming class: 15 students
19
Yield rate for Class of 2027 was 43%
20
Early Decision yield: 65% for accepted students
21
International student enrollment: 1,800 undergrads
22
Female undergrad enrollment: 3,500 (49%)
23
In-state enrollment: 500 students
24
Transfer students enrolled: 90 for 2023
25
Total full-time undergrads: 7,000+
26
Part-time enrollment: 73 undergrads
27
Online enrollment growth to 500 grad students
28
PhD enrollment total: 1,500 across disciplines
Interpretation
Enrollment Data Interpretation
While Carnegie Mellon meticulously assembles its vibrant, multifaceted class of over 7,000 undergraduates—from 500 future coders in Computer Science to 25 daring new dramatists—the real magic is that 57% of the brilliant students they fight to admit somehow choose to go elsewhere, proving that even a top-tier institution must occasionally watch its perfect calculations get politely declined.
05 · Category
Test Scores and GPA23 stats
01
Middle 50% SAT for Class of 2027: 1500-1570
02
Average GPA of admitted students: 3.91 unweighted
03
Middle 50% ACT: 34-36 for admits
04
85% of admits submit SAT
05
SCS average SAT Math: 790+
06
Engineering middle 50% SAT: 1520-1580
07
Tepper admits average GPA: 3.9
08
Test-optional admits had avg GPA 3.92
09
98% of admits in top 10% of class
10
Average SAT for ED admits: 1550
11
International avg SAT: 1530
12
Female admits avg SAT: 1525
13
Transfer avg GPA: 3.85
14
MS CS avg GRE Quant: 169
15
Tepper MBA avg GMAT: 703
16
PhD applicants avg GPA: 3.95
17
75th percentile SAT EBRW: 770
18
25th percentile ACT English: 34
19
Homeschooled admits avg SAT: 1540
20
QuestBridge matches avg SAT: 1490
21
AP courses avg per admit: 12+
22
IB Diploma score avg: 42/45
23
A-Level predicts avg AAA/A*A*A
Interpretation
Test Scores and GPA Interpretation
Carnegie Mellon's admissions statistics suggest they're not just looking for students who are bright, but for those whose academic records gleam with a near-superhuman polish, making a perfect score seem almost quaint and a single B feel like a relic from a past life.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, February 13). Carnegie Mellon Admission Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/carnegie-mellon-admission-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Carnegie Mellon Admission Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/carnegie-mellon-admission-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Carnegie Mellon Admission Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/carnegie-mellon-admission-statistics.
Sources & references
22 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level