Carnegie Mellon University 2025 Admission Statistics

Carnegie Mellon Admission Guide — Class of 2030 (Applying 2025‑26)

“Bring relentless curiosity and we’ll hand you a canvas the size of Pittsburgh—lab, studio, and Silicon Valley satellite included.” —⁠CMU admission dean, March 2025

Why read this?

You are a rising senior targeting the 2025‑26 admission cycle.
CMU’s new 2024‑25 Common Data Set just landed with fresh numbers on selectivity, test scores, costs, and aid. Below is a narrative, data‑rich guide—no tables, no fluff—so you can gauge your odds, time every deadline, and present your most persuasive application.

The Admission Landscape — Numbers in Plain English

• 33 900+ first‑year applications last cycle and 3 959 offers—an overall admit rate of roughly 12 %.
• Early Decision helps. 4 423 ED applicants yielded 612 admits: about 14 %, versus ~11 % in Regular.
• Highly predictive yield. 1 808 freshmen enrolled, a 46 % yield that lets CMU hit capacity without over‑admitting.
• Wait‑list reality. 16  484 placed on the list, only 32 eventually received an offer—plan as if WL = no.
• Persistence. First‑year retention sits at a stellar 98 %; six‑year graduation touches 94 %.

Academic Profile of the 2024‑25 Admitted Class

• Testing optional—but the bar is sky‑high if you submit.
  • Half the freshmen sent scores; their middle band ran 1510‑1560 SAT and 34‑35 ACT.
• Classroom dominance. 97 % ranked in the top tenth of their high‑school class; average GPA 3.89 on a 4.0 scale.
• Course rigor rules. AP Calc BC, calculus‑based physics, multi‑year foreign language, and lab sciences are baseline for technical colleges; CFA applicants substitute portfolio depth.
• Holistic but academic‑leaning. CMU rates rigor, GPA, rank, essays, recommendations, extracurricular impact, talent, and character as very important; test scores and interviews trail just behind.

What CMU Values (and How to Show It)

• Evidence of mastery. Whether it’s a national math contest, an art portfolio that won regional awards, or published biotech research, show work that changed something, not just grades.
• Maker mindset. Concrete outputs—apps on GitHub, robots at FIRST, original scores performed by peers—carry outsized weight.
• Collaboration chops. Examples of team problem‑solving (hackathons, design studios, theatre productions) fit CMU’s project culture.
• Authentic voice. Essays that dissect a failure or moral dilemma resonate more than résumé rewrites.
• Program fit. Each college (SCS, CIT, CFA, Dietrich, Tepper, Heinz, MCS) reads separately. Align coursework and extracurriculars with the exact college you choose.

The Money Question

• Sticker price for 2025‑26 projects to roughly $87 000: $67 020 tuition, $1 756 fees, $18 900 room‑board.
• Need‑aware but generous. CMU meets 100 % of demonstrated need; the average freshman package last year was about $56 000‑$61 000, almost entirely grants.
• Loans kept modest. Need‑based borrowers averaged $4‑6 K per year; one‑third of graduates carried any federal loan debt, averaging $18 K.
• Merit aid is rare. Only ~200 students with no need received institutional scholarships, averaging $14 K.
• Aid deadlines: CSS Profile and FAFSA by February 15 2026 (earlier for priority).
• Net Price Calculator: Run it before locking in Early Decision.

Anticipated Timeline for Class of 2030

Spring 2025

• Finalize senior year with multivariable calculus, advanced science, or upper‑level studio depending on college.
• Decide whether you can realistically test to a 1510+/34+; if so, register for August SAT/ACT.

Summer 2025

• Draft the Common App essay and CMU college‑specific supplement (why major + why CMU).
• Package your “maker artifact”: GitHub repo, design portfolio, research abstract, or performance reel.

Early Fall 2025

• Attend a virtual info session or visit Pittsburgh; connect with CMU student panelists.
• November  1  2025 — Early Decision deadline (not available for some fine‑arts majors).
• Audition / portfolio deadlines for CFA programs: December  1  2025.

Winter 2026

• January  1  2026 — Regular Decision application deadline (Dec 1 for Drama/Music).
• Ensure all test scores (if any) and recommendations arrive.

Spring 2026

• Decisions release April  1  2026; compare aid packages.
• Housing deposit $800 due May  31, enrollment reply May  1.

Life on the Hill

• 6 : 1 student–faculty ratio; average class size hovers near 27, but first‑year gen‑eds can top 100.
• Residential reality. 100 % of freshmen live on campus in themed housing clusters—each with its own community flavor.
• Out‑of‑state heavy. 88 % of freshmen hail from beyond Pennsylvania; international students make up roughly 23 % of the class.
• Campus culture. Robotics labs, improv comedy troupes, buggy races, and a thriving startup incubator share the same quad; Greek life is small but present.
• Pittsburgh perks. Walkable tech corridor (Google, Duolingo, Argo AI), Carnegie Museums next door, four‑season outdoor scene in nearby parks.

How to Decide If CMU Fits

1. Do you crave project‑based learning? CMU academics pivot on group deliverables, not just exams.
2. Are you okay being among the best and still feeling stretched? Curved classes and high achievers keep egos honest.
3. Does city‑scale innovation excite you? Pittsburgh offers real‑world lab space for autonomous tech, design, and policy.
4. Will the price work? Run the NPC and read aid policy carefully—merit is scarce, but need is fully met.

Three or more “yes” answers? CMU belongs on your early‑action radar—especially via Early Decision if finances align.

Quick‑Hit Checklist

• [ ] Target GPA 3.9+ in the toughest courses offered.
• [ ] Submit SAT ≥ 1510 or ACT ≥ 34 only if above mid‑range.
• [ ] Finish maker project or portfolio by September.
• [ ] Hit ED deadline Nov 1 2025 (or RD Jan 1 2026).
• [ ] File CSS Profile + FAFSA by Feb 15 2026.
• [ ] Budget $87 K sticker, but model need‑based aid.
• [ ] Mention a campus tradition (Spring Carnival, buggy, etc.) in your supplement.

Final Word

Carnegie Mellon fuses conservatory‑grade arts, top‑ranked computer science, and cutting‑edge research into a compact urban campus that punches well above its size. Admission is brutal but predictable: show rigorous academics, tangible creation, and authentic alignment with your intended college. Nail those elements—and the deadlines—and the Tartans may soon call you one of their own.

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