While Carnegie Mellon's overall acceptance rate of 11% is already daunting, getting into its world-renowned School of Computer Science is a staggering seven times harder than winning a coin toss, with a mere 7% of applicants receiving an offer.
Key Takeaways
- For Fall 2023, Carnegie Mellon University's overall undergraduate acceptance rate was 11%
- In 2022, CMU's School of Computer Science undergraduate acceptance rate was 7%
- Fall 2021 Tepper School of Business acceptance rate at CMU undergrad was 12.4%
- Fall 2023 CMU undergraduate enrollment: 7,073
- CMU total enrollment Fall 2023: 16,433 including grad
- Fall 2022 CMU freshman class size: 1,637
- CMU undergraduate demographics: 48% female Fall 2023
- Fall 2022 CMU undergrads Asian: 24%
- CMU international students: 37% of undergrads 2023
- CMU middle 50% SAT undergrad Fall 2023: 1500-1560
- Fall 2022 CMU avg GPA admitted undergrad: 3.9 unweighted
- CMU SCS undergrad avg SAT Math: 790 2023
- CMU undergrad apps increase 20% since 2019 2023
- Fall 2022 test-optional policy apps up 15%
- CMU Early Decision apps 2023: 4,500, ED acceptance 20%
Carnegie Mellon University has highly competitive undergraduate admissions, with acceptance rates typically between 5% and 15% for its top schools.
Academic Profiles
1CMU middle 50% SAT undergrad Fall 2023: 1500-1560
Verified2Fall 2022 CMU avg GPA admitted undergrad: 3.9 unweighted
Verified3CMU SCS undergrad avg SAT Math: 790 2023
Verified4Fall 2021 Engineering admits avg ACT: 34-35
Directional5CMU Tepper admits middle 50% SAT: 1490-1570 2023
Single source6Fall 2022 MCS undergrad avg GPA: 3.92
Verified7CMU test-optional admits avg SAT submitters 2023: 1520
Verified8Fall 2021 Dietrich admits ACT 33-35
Verified9CMU 2023 grad GRE avg quant SCS: 168
Directional10Fall 2022 Masters CS avg undergrad GPA: 3.8+
Single source11CMU Engineering PhD admits avg GRE: 165Q 2023
Verified12Fall 2021 Tepper MBA GMAT avg: 710
Verified13CMU HCI Masters avg GPA: 3.7 2022
Verified14Fall 2023 Robotics PhD admits quant GRE: 167 avg
Directional15CMU 2022 undergrad valedictorians/salutatorians: 85% of class
Single source16Fall 2021 AP/IB scholars admitted: 90%+
Verified17CMU SCS PhD admits avg pubs: 2-3 2023
Verified18Fall 2022 Fine Arts portfolio review stats: top 5%
Verified19CMU 2023 avg undergrad admitted extracurricular leadership: national level
Directional20Fall 2021 Heinz Masters avg work exp: 3 years
Single sourceAcademic Profiles Interpretation
Carnegie Mellon’s admissions statistics collectively whisper, with a mix of awe and dread, that they aren't just selecting students but assembling a league of academic superheroes who also, incidentally, have already cured boredom in their spare time.
Acceptance Rates
1For Fall 2023, Carnegie Mellon University's overall undergraduate acceptance rate was 11%
Verified2In 2022, CMU's School of Computer Science undergraduate acceptance rate was 7%
Verified3Fall 2021 Tepper School of Business acceptance rate at CMU undergrad was 12.4%
Verified4CMU College of Engineering undergraduate acceptance rate for Fall 2023 was approximately 8%
Directional5For Fall 2020, CMU's Dietrich College acceptance rate was 15%
Single source6CMU Mellon College of Science undergrad acceptance rate Fall 2022: 10%
Verified7Fall 2023 overall CMU undergrad apps: 38,973, acceptances: 4,285
Verified8CMU School of Design undergrad acceptance rate 2021: 5%
Verified9Fall 2022 CMU Drama acceptance rate: under 3%
Directional10CMU Heinz College undergrad policy acceptance rate 2023: 18%
Single source11Fall 2021 CMU total undergrad acceptance rate: 13.5%
Verified12CMU SCS undergrad Fall 2020 acceptance: 5.9%
Verified132023 CMU Engineering PhD acceptance rate: 10%
Verified14Fall 2022 CMU Masters in CS acceptance rate: 7%
Directional15CMU Tepper MBA acceptance rate 2023: 28%
Single source16Fall 2021 CMU Public Policy Masters acceptance: 35%
Verified17CMU Robotics PhD acceptance rate 2022: 12%
Verified182023 CMU Fine Arts MFA acceptance: 8%
Verified19Fall 2020 CMU Machine Learning Masters: 10%
Directional20CMU EPP undergrad acceptance 2021: 14%
Single source21Fall 2023 CMU total grad apps: 25,000+, acceptance rate avg 15%
Verified22CMU HCI Masters acceptance 2022: 9%
Verified232021 CMU Statistics PhD: 8%
Verified24Fall 2022 CMU Entertainment Tech Masters: 20%
Directional25CMU BXA Interdisciplinary acceptance 2023: 11%
Single source262020 CMU Civil Engineering Masters: 22%
Verified27Fall 2021 CMU Philosophy PhD: 5%
Verified28CMU 2023 Modern Languages Masters: 25%
Verified29Fall 2022 CMU Architecture Masters: 15%
Directional30CMU 2021 Psychology PhD: 6%
Single sourceAcceptance Rates Interpretation
Getting into Carnegie Mellon feels less like a university admissions process and more like trying to join a series of hyper-elite secret societies, each with its own increasingly selective and cryptic knock.
Application Trends
1CMU undergrad apps increase 20% since 2019 2023
Verified2Fall 2022 test-optional policy apps up 15%
Verified3CMU Early Decision apps 2023: 4,500, ED acceptance 20%
Verified4Fall 2021 international apps undergrad: 10,000+
Directional5CMU SCS undergrad apps 2023: 12,000+
Single source6Fall 2022 Regular Decision yield: 45%
Verified7CMU grad apps increase 10% yearly avg 2020-2023
Verified8Fall 2023 waitlist undergrad: 5,000, admits from waitlist 100
Verified9CMU 2022 legacy apps: 10% of total
Directional10Fall 2021 first-gen apps up 25%
Single source11CMU SCS Masters apps 2023: 8,000, enrolled 200
Verified12Fall 2022 ED fill rate: 50% of class
Verified13CMU 2023 women apps SCS: 30% increase
Verified14Fall 2021 total undergrad yield: 42%
Directional15CMU grad PhD apps avg 500/program 2023
Single source16Fall 2022 audition-based apps Drama: 2,500
Verified17CMU 2023 portfolio apps Design: 1,200
Verified18Fall 2021 transfer apps undergrad: 1,000, acceptance 7%
VerifiedApplication Trends Interpretation
While Carnegie Mellon’s swelling applicant pool is a testament to its prestige, the brutal math of its thin envelopes—from turning 5,000 waitlisted hopefuls into just 100 admits, to accepting only 200 from 8,000 SCS master’s applicants—reveals a university that is increasingly a dream deferred for the overwhelming majority who dare to apply.
Demographics
1CMU undergraduate demographics: 48% female Fall 2023
Verified2Fall 2022 CMU undergrads Asian: 24%
Verified3CMU international students: 37% of undergrads 2023
Verified4Fall 2021 CMU Black/African American undergrads: 5%
Directional5CMU Hispanic/Latino undergrads 2023: 9%
Single source6Fall 2022 CMU White undergrads: 28%
Verified7CMU first-gen undergrads 2023: 15%
Verified8Fall 2021 CMU Pell Grant recipients undergrad: 12%
Verified9CMU grad students female: 42% 2023
Directional10Fall 2022 CMU international grad: 50%
Single source11CMU undergrad out-of-state: 82% 2023
Verified12Fall 2021 CMU legacy admits undergrad: 3%
Verified13CMU 2023 undergrads from public high schools: 60%
Verified14Fall 2022 CMU athletes undergrad: 2%
Directional15CMU LGBTQ+ undergrads self-reported: 10% 2023
Single source16Fall 2021 CMU veterans undergrad: 0.5%
Verified17CMU 2023 SCS undergrad female: 18%
Verified18Fall 2022 Engineering undergrad underrepresented minorities: 20%
Verified19CMU Tepper undergrad international: 40% 2023
Directional20Fall 2021 Fine Arts undergrad female: 65%
Single source21CMU 2023 total student body diversity index: high per CDS
Verified22Fall 2022 CMU grad Asian: 20%
Verified23CMU undergrad median age 19, grad 27 in 2023
Verified24Fall 2021 CMU low-income undergrads: 18%
DirectionalDemographics Interpretation
Carnegie Mellon’s student body reads like a complex algorithm: it's globally sourced and technically brilliant, yet still debugging the stubborn bugs of gender parity in tech and broader socioeconomic inclusion.
Enrollment Numbers
1Fall 2023 CMU undergraduate enrollment: 7,073
Verified2CMU total enrollment Fall 2023: 16,433 including grad
Verified3Fall 2022 CMU freshman class size: 1,637
Verified4CMU School of Computer Science undergrad enrollment 2023: 2,200
Directional5Fall 2021 CMU College of Engineering undergrads: 3,000+
Single source6CMU Tepper undergrad enrollment 2023: 1,100
Verified7Fall 2023 CMU grad students: 9,360
Verified8CMU Mellon College of Science undergrads 2022: 1,200
Verified9Fall 2021 CMU international undergrad enrollment: 1,800 (25%)
Directional10CMU Dietrich College undergrads 2023: 1,500
Single source11Fall 2022 CMU total grad enrollment: 8,950
Verified12CMU School of Design undergrad enrollment 2023: 200
Verified13Fall 2023 CMU College of Fine Arts undergrads: 500
Verified14CMU Heinz College grad enrollment 2022: 1,200
Directional15Fall 2021 CMU PhD students total: 2,500
Single source16CMU SCS grad enrollment 2023: 1,800 Masters + PhDs
Verified17Fall 2022 CMU Engineering Masters enrollment: 2,000
Verified18CMU Tepper MBA enrollment 2023: 350
Verified19Fall 2023 CMU first-year retention rate: 97%
Directional20CMU 2022 grad retention/completion: 95%
Single source21Fall 2021 CMU BXA program enrollment: 150
Verified22CMU Robotics Institute grad students 2023: 400
Verified23Fall 2022 CMU HCI Masters cohort: 60
Verified24CMU 2023 Entertainment Technology Center enrollment: 50
Directional25Fall 2021 CMU total apps undergrad: 32,000+, enrolled 1,600
Single sourceEnrollment Numbers Interpretation
While Carnegie Mellon operates a formidable graduate student factory, its true prestige lies in its intensely selective undergraduate crucible, where it distills just 1,600 new minds from over 32,000 hopefuls.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CMUcmu.eduVisit source
- Reference 2USNEWSusnews.comVisit source
- Reference 3ADMISSIONadmission.engr.cmu.eduVisit source
- Reference 4COLLEGETRANSITIONScollegetransitions.comVisit source
- Reference 5CRIMSONEDUCATIONcrimsoneducation.orgVisit source
- Reference 6COLLEGEVINEcollegevine.comVisit source
- Reference 7NICHEniche.comVisit source
- Reference 8CSDcsd.cmu.eduVisit source
- Reference 9IPEDSipeds.nces.ed.govVisit source
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- Reference 18MCSmcs.cmu.eduVisit source
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- Reference 20CScs.cmu.eduVisit source
- Reference 21TEPPERtepper.cmu.eduVisit source
- Reference 22DATAUSAdatausa.ioVisit source
- Reference 23COLLEGEFACTUALcollegefactual.comVisit source