The average acceptance rate at CMU over the past 10 years is 16.58%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 11.66%. CMU is highly selective, and gaining admission is challenging for most applicants.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 39.13%, and the 2025 yield is 45.67%. Overall, the yield has increased by 41.30% from 2015 to 2025.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 11.66%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that CMU has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 45.67%. This rising yield trend demonstrates that CMU is increasingly successful at converting admitted students into enrolled students. An increasing yield rate suggests stronger student preference for CMU and indicates that the institution's admitted class quality and perceived value continue to improve.
For the 2025 admission cycle, CMU received approximately 33,941 applications, admitted 3,959 students, and enrolled 1,808 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that CMU is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
CMU 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at CMU over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 16.58%, while the most recent rate stands at 11.66%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 11.66%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 12.92% and for women is 22.31%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at CMU have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 23.72% | 19.05% | 31.61% |
| 2016-17 | 21.71% -2.00% |
16.59% -2.46% |
29.85% -1.76% |
| 2017-18 | 22.20% 0.48% |
16.74% 0.16% |
31.15% 1.30% |
| 2018-19 | 17.12% -5.07% |
12.99% -3.75% |
23.67% -7.48% |
| 2019-20 | 15.44% -1.68% |
11.55% -1.43% |
21.43% -2.24% |
| 2020-21 | 17.27% 1.83% |
13.33% 1.77% |
23.36% 1.94% |
| 2021-22 | 14.00% -3.28% |
11.00% -2.32% |
18.00% -5.37% |
| 2022-23 | 11.30% -2.69% |
9.00% -2.00% |
14.73% -3.27% |
| 2023-24 | 11.40% 0.10% |
9.20% 0.20% |
14.61% -0.12% |
| 2024-25 | 11.66% 0.26% |
9.79% 0.60% |
14.69% 0.07% |
| Average | 16.58% | 12.92% | 22.31% |
CMU has demonstrated an improvement in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has increased from 32.32% in 2015 to 45.67% in 2025, representing a 41.30% increase. The 10-year average yield stands at 39.13%, reflecting strengthening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at CMU from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has increased by 41.30% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 32.32% | 34.67% | 29.92% |
| 2016-17 | 33.73% 1.41% |
36.09% 1.41% |
31.66% 1.74% |
| 2017-18 | 36.84% 3.10% |
38.41% 2.33% |
35.44% 3.79% |
| 2018-19 | 37.70% 0.86% |
40.92% 2.50% |
34.90% -0.54% |
| 2019-20 | 37.15% -0.55% |
40.75% -0.16% |
34.15% -0.75% |
| 2020-21 | 36.18% -0.96% |
38.64% -2.11% |
34.03% -0.12% |
| 2021-22 | 43.00% 6.81% |
42.98% 4.34% |
42.00% 7.97% |
| 2022-23 | 44.31% 1.31% |
45.55% 2.57% |
43.18% 1.18% |
| 2023-24 | 44.44% 0.14% |
47.12% 1.58% |
41.85% -1.33% |
| 2024-25 | 45.67% 1.22% |
49.37% 2.24% |
41.71% -0.14% |
| Average | 39.13% | 41.45% | 36.88% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 27,521, the average number of admitted is 4,327, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 1,681.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Carnegie Mellon University from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 20,547 | 4,873 | 1,575 |
| 2016-17 | 21,189 3.12% |
4,601 -5.58% |
1,552 -1.46% |
| 2017-18 | 20,497 -3.27% |
4,550 -1.11% |
1,676 7.99% |
| 2018-19 | 24,351 18.80% |
4,170 -8.35% |
1,572 -6.21% |
| 2019-20 | 27,634 13.48% |
4,267 2.33% |
1,585 0.83% |
| 2020-21 | 26,189 -5.23% |
4,524 6.02% |
1,637 3.28% |
| 2021-22 | 32,896 25.61% |
4,605 1.79% |
1,980 20.95% |
| 2022-23 | 34,261 4.15% |
3,873 -15.90% |
1,716 -13.33% |
| 2023-24 | 33,707 -1.62% |
3,843 -0.77% |
1,708 -0.47% |
| 2024-25 | 33,941 0.69% |
3,959 3.02% |
1,808 5.85% |
| Average | 27,521 | 4,327 | 1,681 |
The following table compares Carnegie Mellon University' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Mellon University | 11.40% | 11.66% | 2.28% |
| University of Pennsylvania | 5.40% | 5.87% | -8.01% |
| Drexel University | 79.44% | 77.53% | 2.46% |
| Villanova University | 26.98% | 25.12% | 7.40% |
| Eastern University | 90.77% | 93.62% | -3.04% |
| Thomas Jefferson University | 80.97% | 86.14% | -6.00% |
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