,·Private Research University·Est. 1900
“Where science, technology, and the arts converge to solve humanity's hardest problems.”
Carnegie Mellon University, founded in 1900 as Carnegie Technical Schools by industrialist Andrew Carnegie, has grown into one of the world's foremost research universities — a place where the boundaries between disciplines are deliberately blurred and where computer scientists collaborate with artists, engineers work alongside policy experts, and roboticists partner with dramatists. Located in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood adjacent to Schenley Park, CMU sits within one of America's most transformed post-industrial cities, now globally recognized as a hub for robotics, autonomous vehicles, AI, and healthcare technology. The university's seven colleges and schools — the School of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Mellon College of Science, Tepper School of Business, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, and the College of Fine Arts — each rank among the best in the nation. US News ranks CMU #20 nationally (2026) and #1 in graduate computer science, tied with MIT and Stanford. The academic experience at CMU is famously rigorous and self-selecting. The School of Computer Science is the crown jewel: its seven departments (Computer Science, Robotics Institute, Machine Learning, Human-Computer Interaction, Language Technologies, Computational Biology, and Software and Societal Systems) represent the densest concentration of computing talent anywhere on earth. But CMU's identity is not reducible to CS: the College of Fine Arts trains world-class architects, musicians, actors, and designers; Tepper places MBAs at the highest levels of finance and consulting; and Heinz equips policy analysts with the quantitative rigor to reshape government. Programs like BXA (Bachelor of Computer Science and Arts) institutionalize cross-college collaboration. Campus life reflects the same creative intensity. Spring Carnival — held annually since 1920 — is CMU's signature event, featuring Buggy (Sweepstakes), in which student organizations race aerodynamic human-pushed vehicles around a 0.84-mile Schenley Park course at up to 40 mph, alongside elaborate multi-story booths built by student organizations. Roughly 40% of CMU's total student body and faculty have been foreign-born, making it one of the most internationally diverse universities in the US. Pittsburgh is an affordable, walkable city rich with culture, and a magnet for tech investment, offering CMU students exceptional internship and research partnerships with Google, Apple, Uber, Bosch, and dozens of startups.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Computer Science (Graduate)
US News 2026 — tied with MIT and Stanford
Artificial Intelligence (Undergraduate)
US News 2026
Cybersecurity (Undergraduate)
US News 2026
Software Engineering (Undergraduate)
US News 2026
Information Systems (Undergraduate)
US News 2026
Varies by School — Testing policy varies by college or program within the university.
Official SourceEarly Decision
Binding. Notification by December 15. Not available for School of Drama, BXA Design, or School of Music.
Regular Decision (Drama & Music)
Earlier deadline applies to School of Drama and School of Music applicants within the College of Fine Arts.
Regular Decision
Notification by April 1. Enrollment deposit due May 1.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$67,020
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Consistently ranked #1 in the nation, SCS is organized into seven departments including Computer Science, the Robotics Institute, Machine Learning, Human-Computer Interaction, Language Technologies, Computational Biology, and Software and Societal Systems. Admission is among the most selective in the world, with SCS applicants facing acceptance rates in the 4-7% range.
Home to seven engineering departments — Biomedical, Chemical, Civil & Environmental, Electrical & Computer, Engineering & Public Policy, Mechanical, and Materials Science. Known for close ties to industry and hands-on research from the first year.
A globally ranked business school known for its quantitative and analytical approach to management education. Distinctive for co-locating with one of the world's top CS and engineering schools, creating unique opportunities in business analytics, fintech, and technology management.
CMU's liberal arts college, distinguished by its emphasis on computational methods across humanistic disciplines. Departments include Psychology, Social & Decision Sciences, and Statistics & Data Science alongside English, Philosophy, and History.
A federation of five distinct schools — Architecture, Music, Design, Drama, and Art — each nationally and internationally recognized. The School of Drama is one of the top drama conservatories in the US. CFA students frequently collaborate with CS and engineering peers through BXA joint-degree programs.
An interdisciplinary graduate school applying data analytics, management science, and policy expertise to public-sector challenges. Offers graduate programs in Public Policy, Information Systems Management, Arts Management, and Healthcare Policy.
Houses Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematical Sciences, and Physics. Known for collaborative research with SCS and Engineering, particularly in computational biology, quantum information science, and materials science.
4 years
The most selective CS undergraduate program in the United States. Students gain deep expertise in algorithms, systems, AI, and theory with unrivaled access to faculty conducting frontier research. Graduates are recruited by every major tech company. A 4-7% college-level acceptance rate makes admission extraordinarily competitive.
4 years
A unique interdisciplinary degree bridging the School of Computer Science with the College of Fine Arts. Students simultaneously develop technical computing skills and creative artistic practice. Graduates are prized for their ability to build technology that humans actually want to use.
1.5 years
A joint program between Tepper, Statistics, Mathematical Sciences, and Computer Science. Consistently ranked the #1 quantitative finance master's program in the US. Near-100% placement rates with top Wall Street firms.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $86,812
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
