Quad

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PAQuad's selectivityUltra selective
Known forUltra-selectiveTop test scoresVery small student-faculty ratioVery diverseHigh earnersHigh graduation rate
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

  • Fall 2025: middle 50% ACT composite 34–36 (fall 2024: 34–35)Carnegie Mellon University Common Data Set 2025–26

Source:Carnegie Mellon University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

1 in 9 applicants admitted

Carnegie Mellon admits about 1 in 9 applicants (11%). That puts it in the "Ultra selective" tier, more selective than 97% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

11%

11%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityUltra selective

Applied

34,867

Admitted

3,859

Yield

47%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.89

SAT middle 50%

1500–1560

10001600
ACT middle 50%

34–36

1836
Applications +71% since fall 2014 · admit rate 25% → 12%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 7,304 undergrads, where 16% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

7.3K

undergrads · larger than 84% of colleges

Diversity index

0.78

Pell Grant

16%

below the median

First generation

10%

below the median

Large cityNCAA D-III · University Athletic AssociationROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
Steady · index 0.76 → 0.78 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Computer Science (15% of graduates). 5 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 96% of colleges. 92% of faculty are full-time. Spends $41,024 a year on instruction per student.

5 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 96% of colleges

Most popular major

Computer Science

15% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$268.1K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

92%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$41K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $58,996 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $34.7K more than the national median. The 51% who received grants paid $35,552 on average; the other 49% paid the full sticker price of $83,697.

30%

$59K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $34.7K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$83,697 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
9.2% · avg $12K
of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 30% of full price

Federal loans

34%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −5% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $114,862 ten years after enrolling, more than at 99% of colleges; 90% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.1 years of that salary.

90%

90%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$114.9K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$21.8K

≈ $231/month for 10 years

Retention

98%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 88% → 94% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 2% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 5%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 71% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 25% to 12%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −5% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +71%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 25% → 12% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.76 → 0.78

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

University of Chicago

4.5% admit · SAT 1530 · 7.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Harvard University

4.2% admit · SAT 1505 · 7.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Brown University

5.4% admit · SAT 1545 · 7.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Washington University in St Louis

12% admit · SAT 1535 · 7.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Carnegie Mellon University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Carnegie Mellon University · Fall 2025; 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; 2024–25 (estimated) · retrieved 2026-10-05

  4. 4
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    Carnegie Mellon University (2026)

    Carnegie Mellon University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 211440 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything