Carnegie Mellon Admission Requirements
Chances of getting into Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
17.1%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Very High |
How hard is it to get into Carnegie Mellon and can I get accepted? The school has a 17% acceptance rate ranking it #3 in Pennsylvania for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 4,170 out of 24,351 applicants were admitted making Carnegie Mellon a very highly competitive school to get into with a low chance of acceptance for typical applicants. Academically, it has exceptionally high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 2 percent. Carnegie Mellon University typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students. Only 38% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top ten percent of their high school class.
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Calculate My ChancesCarnegie Mellon SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1450-1550Applicants Submitting SAT
72%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 700 |
| SAT Math 25th | 750 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1450 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 750 |
| SAT Math 75th | 800 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1550 |
| Average SAT Score | 1500 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Carnegie Mellon University?
Carnegie Mellon University typically requires applicants to be in the top 2 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1450 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1400. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1500 out of 1600. The school ranks #1 in Pennsylvania for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 72 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
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Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1550 and Above | Good | >26% |
| 1500 to 1550 | Avg + | 17%-26% |
| 1450 to 1500 | Avg - | 11%-17% |
| 1400 to 1450 | Reach | 7%-11% |
| Less than 1400 | Low | <7% |
Carnegie Mellon ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
33-35Applicants Submitting ACT
42%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 33 |
| ACT Math 25th | 32 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 33 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 35 |
| ACT Math 75th | 35 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 35 |
| Average ACT Score | 34 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Carnegie Mellon?
Admission data indicates that Carnegie Mellon regularly accepts students with ACT's of 33 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 2 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 32 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 34 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 35 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #1 in Pennsylvania for highest average ACT composite score. 42 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Carnegie Mellon University.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 35 and Above | Good | >26% |
| 34 to 35 | Avg + | 17%-26% |
| 33 to 34 | Avg - | 11%-17% |
| 32 to 33 | Reach | 7%-11% |
| Less than 32 | Low | <7% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.69Typical High School Grades
B+You will need very good grades in high school to get into Carnegie Mellon University. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Carnegie Mellon University was 3.69 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #12 in Pennsylvania for highest average GPA. Meeting these GPA requirements alone is not enough to gain admission as Carnegie Mellon is a very selective school.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75+ | 51% | Good |
| 3.50 to 3.75 | 28% | Avg - |
| 3.25 to 3.50 | 14% | Reach |
| 3.00 to 3.25 | 6% | Reach |
| 2.75 to 3.00 | 1% | Reach |
| 2.50 to 2.75 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.25 to 2.50 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.00 to 2.25 | N/A% | Low |
High School Class Rank
76% of Carnegie Mellon University freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 76% |
| Top 25% of class | 93% |
| Top 50% of class | 99% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 1% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 9,430 | 14,921 | 24,351 |
| Accepted | 2,232 | 1,938 | 4,170 |
| Acceptance Rate | 24% | 13% | 17% |
| Enrolled | 779 | 793 | 1,572 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 35% | 41% | 38% |
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Carnegie Mellon University and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Neither required nor recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Recommended |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Required |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Consider
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=211440 IPEDS survey data for Carnegie Mellon University.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Carnegie Mellon University prefer SAT or ACT?
72% of students submit their SAT scores to Carnegie Mellon. 42% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Carnegie Mellon University?
17% of those who apply are granted admission to Carnegie Mellon. Admission competition is very high and the college has elite admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Carnegie Mellon University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1450 and 1550. 72% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Carnegie Mellon University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 33 and 35. 42% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.