Carnegie Mellon University Admission Requirements and Statistics

[updated for 2024-2025 admission data]

How hard is CMU to get into?

This page provides the latest information on Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)'s admission process, acceptance rate, and student profile. CMU's acceptance rate is 11.66% for 2024-2025 admission. A total of 33,941 students applied and 3,959 were admitted to the school. Its acceptance rate is low, making it difficult to get into CMU.

To apply to CMU, recommendations and personal statement (or essay) are required to submit. The SAT and ACT score is not required, but considered for admission. In addition, english proficiency test score is also considered (required).

Explore Carnegie Mellon University

Admission Statistics

For the academic year 2024-25, CMU's acceptance rate is 11.66% and the yield (also known as enrollment rate) is 45.67%. 20,143 men and 12,734 women applied to CMU and 1,973 men and 1,870 women students were accepted.

1,063 applicants who has another gender applied and 116 were accepted.

Among them, 974 men and 780 women were enrolled in CMU. You can explore the CMU's admission rates and SAT score trends over the past decade, including year-by-year data and analysis, by visiting Admission Trends page.

Acceptance Rate and Admission Statistics at CMU
TotalMenWomenAnother GenderGender Unknown
Applicants33,94120,14312,7341,0631
Admitted3,9591,9731,8701160
Enrolled1,808974780540
Acceptance Rate 11.66%9.79%14.69%10.91%0.00%
Yield 45.67%49.37%41.71%46.55%-

Data source: IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) (Last update: December 11, 2024)

Carnegie Mellon University 2025 Acceptance Rate By Gender chart

Median SAT and ACT Score

For the academic year 2025, 951 students (53% of enrolled students) submitted SAT scores and 405 students (22% of enrolled students) submitted ACT scores as part of the admission process at CMU.

The median SAT score for admitted students is 1,540, including 750 in SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and 790 in SAT Math. The 75th percentile SAT EBRW score is 770 and the 25th percentile is 730. For SAT Math, the 75th percentile score is 800 and the 25th percentile is 770.

The median ACT composite score is 35, with a 75th percentile score of 35 and a 25th percentile score of 34 at CMU. The median ACT Math score is 35 and the median ACT English score is 35.

How competitive is CMU's score?

The SAT and ACT scores at Carnegie Mellon University are relatively high compared to similar colleges (SAT: 1,497, ACT: 34 - private (not-for-profit) research university with very high research activity).

2025 SAT and ACT Scores at CMU
25th Percentile50th Percentile (Median)75th Percentile
SAT Total1,5001,5401,570
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing730750770
SAT Math770790800
ACT Composite343535
ACT Math343536
ACT English333536

Data source: IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) (Last update: December 11, 2024)

Carnegie Mellon University 2025 SAT and ACT Score Chart

First-year Enrollment by Gender and Enrolled Type

For the academic year 2024-25, total 1,808 first-year students enrolled in CMU. The proportion of full-time students is 99.94% and part-time students is 0.06%.

By gender, the proportion of men students is 53.87% and women students is 43.14%. 2.99% of students has another gender.

The following table shows the first-year students by gender and enrolled type at CMU.

First-Year Students by Gender and Enrolled Type at CMU
TotalMenWomenAnother GenderGender Unknown
Total1,808974780540
Full-time1,807973780540
Part-time11000

Data source: IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) (Last update: December 11, 2024)

Application Requirements

It requires to submit High School GPA, High School Record (or Transcript), Recommendations, English Proficiency Test, and Personal statement or essay to its applicants.

The SAT and ACT test score is not required, but considered in admission process at CMU. The english proficiency test is required .

The next table summarizes the application requirements to apply Carnegie Mellon University.

For more admission information such as minimum GPA and deadlines, see its online application page .

CMU Admission Requirements
High School GPARequired
High School RankConsidered, if submitted
High School Record (or Transcript)Required
Completion of College Preparatory ProgramConsidered, if submitted
RecommendationsRequired
Formal Demonstration of CompetenciesConsidered, if submitted
SAT / ACTConsidered, if submitted
English Proficiency TestRequired
Other Test (Wonderlic,WISC-III,etc)Not Considered
Work experienceConsidered, if submitted
Personal statement or essayRequired
Legacy statusNot Considered

General Admissions Information

The following provides general admission information for applying to CMU:

  • Open Admission Policy: No
  • Undergraduate Application Fees: -
  • Graduate Application Fees: -
  • Admission Information: https://www.cmu.edu/admission/admission
  • Online Application: https://www.cmu.edu/admission/admission/apply
  • Calendar System: Semester
  • Course for High School Students: Not Offered
  • Credits Accepted: Advanced placement (AP) Credits
  • Degree Offered: Bachelor, Post-Bachelor Certificate, Master, Post-Master Certificate, Doctoral (Research)

CMU Admission Frequently Asked Questions

CMU is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of 11.66%.
CMU recommends submitting SAT or ACT scores, but they are not strictly required for admission. The average SAT score required for admission to CMU is 1,540, and the average ACT score is 35. Meeting or exceeding these scores will improve your chances of admission.
Yes, CMU requires applicants to submit a personal essay or statement as part of the application.
Yes, CMU requires applicants to submit a recommendation letter as part of the application.
CMU does not require an application fee for undergraduate or graduate admission.
Yes, CMU requires applicants to submit high school GPA, high school record or transcript as part of the admission process.
Yes, CMU requires international applicants to submit an English proficiency test (like TOEFL or IELTS) as part of the application.

The institutional SAT code for CMU is 2074 and 4-digit ACT code is 3534.

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