Carnegie Mellon admits approximately 11.4% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 9 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places the institution among the most selective universities in the United States, within the Highly Selective tier (10-25% admission rate). The peer median admission rate of 70.6% highlights the stark difference between Carnegie Mellon's selectivity and typical four-year institutions, representing a gap of nearly 60 percentage points.
This level of selectivity means that even exceptionally qualified students—those with perfect test scores and outstanding academic records—face significant uncertainty in the admission process. Many students who would thrive at Carnegie Mellon do not receive admission due to the volume of highly qualified applicants competing for limited spots. Students should approach Carnegie Mellon as a reach school regardless of their qualifications and build comprehensive college lists that include institutions with higher acceptance rates but comparable post-graduation outcomes. The alternatives section below identifies schools that deliver similar career results with more accessible admission rates.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
Admitted students at Carnegie Mellon typically achieve exceptional standardized test scores. SAT scores range from 1500 at the 25th percentile to 1570 at the 75th percentile, with a midpoint of 1545. Math scores specifically range from 770 to 800, while verbal scores range from 730 to 770. ACT scores cluster tightly between 34 and 35, with a midpoint of 34. These ranges place Carnegie Mellon among the most academically selective institutions nationally.
These score ranges represent the middle 50% of enrolled students, meaning 25% score below 1500 on the SAT while 25% score above 1570. Students scoring below the 25th percentile (1500 SAT, 34 ACT) face increased competitive disadvantage but are not automatically excluded from consideration. Compared to peer institutions with a median SAT of 1256, Carnegie Mellon's standards exceed typical four-year college expectations by 289 points.
Prospective students should consider whether their academic profile aligns with these ranges when building their college list. If your scores fall within the middle 50% range, you are academically competitive for admission, though other factors including program interest, demonstrated achievement, and institutional priorities influence final decisions. Students with scores below the 25th percentile should treat Carnegie Mellon as a high-reach option.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
Carnegie Mellon enrolls 15.2% Pell-eligible students and 10.0% first-generation students, reflecting the composition typical of highly selective private institutions. While these shares are lower than at public universities, they indicate the institution does admit students from diverse economic backgrounds alongside those from more privileged ones. Transfer students represent just 3.3% of the student body, indicating limited transfer admission opportunities.
The relatively low shares of Pell-eligible and first-generation students reflect both the challenging admission requirements and the self-selection effects of highly selective institutions. Students from lower-income backgrounds may face additional barriers including application costs, standardized testing expenses, and limited college counseling resources.
Given Carnegie Mellon's 11.4% acceptance rate, most applicants—even highly qualified ones—will need backup options. The schools below deliver comparable career outcomes with more accessible admission rates or different advantages.
Strong options in your region with comparable outcomes.
First-generation students should know that 10.0% of enrolled students share their background, though this represents a smaller community than at many public institutions. Students from lower-income families should consider the 15.2% Pell share when assessing cultural fit and peer connections. Transfer applicants should note the very limited transfer enrollment and plan accordingly with realistic expectations about admission probability.
Carnegie Mellon demonstrates exceptional student success metrics once students enroll. 97.0% of freshmen return for sophomore year, significantly above the peer median of 83.1%, and 92.5% graduate within six years compared to the peer median of 70.0%. These completion rates rank among the strongest nationally and indicate robust institutional support systems.
Pell-eligible students graduate at 82.2%, creating a 10.3 percentage point gap compared to the overall completion rate. While this gap is larger than ideal, it remains within the typical range for highly selective institutions and reflects the additional challenges that lower-income students often face in completing degrees. The institution's high overall completion rates suggest strong academic support structures.
Students who gain admission can expect comprehensive institutional support for degree completion, as evidenced by the 97.0% retention rate. The substantial gap between Carnegie Mellon's completion rates and peer medians indicates that admitted students benefit from superior resources and academic preparation. Lower-income students should weigh the 10.3 percentage point Pell gap when considering institutional fit, though the 82.2% Pell completion rate still represents strong outcomes in absolute terms.
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