carnegie mellon computer science phd acceptance rate

Carnegie Mellon Computer Science Acceptance Rate: How Hard Is It To Get In?

With top-ranked programs in areas like artificial intelligence, robotics, and software engineering, Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science is one of the most prestigious in the world. But its elite reputation comes with an extremely competitive admissions process.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: For the 2022-2023 application cycle, Carnegie Mellon accepted just 5% of applicants to its computer science programs, making it one of the toughest admissions rates in the country .

Carnegie Mellon CS Program Overview

Carnegie Mellon University’s Computer Science program is highly esteemed and renowned for its excellence in both undergraduate and graduate education. With a strong emphasis on tech innovation and research, it has consistently ranked among the top institutions for computer science education in the United States.

Ranked #1 grad CS program in U.S.

Carnegie Mellon’s graduate Computer Science program holds the prestigious distinction of being ranked as the number one program in the country. This recognition highlights the university’s commitment to providing an exceptional education in computer science at the graduate level.

The program boasts a rigorous curriculum, cutting-edge research opportunities, and a faculty composed of leading experts in various areas of computer science.

Undergrad also ranked top 5 nationally

Not only does Carnegie Mellon excel in its graduate Computer Science program, but its undergraduate program is also highly esteemed. Consistently ranked within the top five nationally, the undergraduate program offers a comprehensive and challenging curriculum that prepares students for successful careers in the field of computer science.

Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, industry partnerships, and a supportive community of peers and faculty.

Focus on tech innovation and research

Carnegie Mellon’s Computer Science program places a strong emphasis on tech innovation and research. Students have the opportunity to work on groundbreaking projects and collaborate with renowned researchers in various areas of computer science.

This focus on innovation and research not only enhances the educational experience but also equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to make significant contributions to the field.

For more information about Carnegie Mellon’s Computer Science program, you can visit their official website: https://www.cs.cmu.edu/ .

Admissions Statistics Snapshot

Around 4,000 apps for 125 cs grad spots.

When it comes to Carnegie Mellon’s Computer Science graduate program, the competition is fierce. With approximately 4,000 applications received each year for just 125 spots, it’s clear that the admissions process is highly selective.

The program attracts top talent from around the world, making it a coveted destination for aspiring computer scientists.

15,000+ apps for 400 CS undergrad seats

For undergraduate computer science programs at Carnegie Mellon, the numbers are even more staggering. With over 15,000 applications vying for approximately 400 seats, the acceptance rate for undergraduates is incredibly low.

This high demand is a testament to the reputation and quality of the program, as well as the opportunities it provides for students to engage in cutting-edge research and innovation.

Sub-10% acceptance rates

Both the graduate and undergraduate computer science programs at Carnegie Mellon boast acceptance rates that are below 10%. This means that the majority of applicants will unfortunately receive rejection letters.

However, it’s important to note that the acceptance rate alone does not define the quality of a program or an applicant’s potential for success. Many factors, including academic achievements, research experience, and personal statements, are taken into consideration during the admissions process.

For more information on Carnegie Mellon’s Computer Science programs and the admissions process, you can visit their official website at https://www.cs.cmu.edu . There, you’ll find detailed information about the curriculum, faculty, and research opportunities that make Carnegie Mellon a top choice for computer science education.

Factors in the Admissions Decision

When it comes to securing a spot at Carnegie Mellon’s renowned Computer Science program, there are several factors that come into play in the admissions decision. These factors help the admissions committee identify applicants who show promise in excelling in the program and contributing to the field of computer science.

Academic excellence, especially in technical courses

One of the key factors that the admissions committee considers is academic excellence. Carnegie Mellon is known for its rigorous curriculum, and they look for applicants who have demonstrated a strong aptitude for technical courses.

This includes a solid foundation in math and science, as well as advanced coursework in computer science if available. A high GPA in these areas can greatly increase an applicant’s chances of acceptance.

High SAT/ACT scores for undergrad applicants

Standardized test scores, such as the SAT or ACT, are also important factors in the admissions decision. Carnegie Mellon values applicants who have performed well on these tests, as they serve as indicators of an applicant’s ability to handle the academic rigor of the program.

While there is no specific cutoff score, it is generally recommended to aim for scores in the upper percentile range to be competitive.

Strong letters of recommendation

Letters of recommendation play a crucial role in the admissions process. Carnegie Mellon looks for letters that highlight an applicant’s academic abilities, personal qualities, and potential for success in the computer science program.

These letters should be written by individuals who can speak to the applicant’s skills, work ethic, and passion for computer science. It is important to choose recommenders who know the applicant well and can provide specific examples of their strengths.

Relevant extracurriculars like coding projects

While academic achievements are important, Carnegie Mellon also values applicants who have gone above and beyond in their extracurricular activities. In particular, involvement in coding projects or other relevant activities can demonstrate a genuine passion for computer science and a commitment to learning outside of the classroom.

These experiences can help set an applicant apart from others and show their potential to contribute to the field.

How to Stand Out as an Applicant

Applying to Carnegie Mellon’s Computer Science program can be highly competitive, so it’s important to make your application stand out from the rest. Here are some tips on how to impress the admissions committee and increase your chances of acceptance:

Take the most rigorous high school CS courses available

One way to demonstrate your passion for computer science is by taking challenging courses in high school. Carnegie Mellon values applicants who have a strong foundation in computer science, so make sure to enroll in advanced placement (AP) or honors courses if they are available.

These courses will not only help you develop the necessary skills and knowledge but also show the admissions committee that you are willing to push yourself academically.

Showcase coding skills through internships and side projects

Coding skills are highly valued in the field of computer science, and Carnegie Mellon wants to see evidence of your abilities. To stand out, consider participating in internships or working on side projects that allow you to apply your coding skills in real-world settings.

These experiences will not only enhance your technical abilities but also demonstrate your commitment to the field.

Highlight research experience and publications

Carnegie Mellon is known for its cutting-edge research in computer science. To demonstrate your potential as a future researcher, highlight any research experience you have had during high school. This could include participating in science fairs, working with professors, or conducting independent research.

Additionally, if you have any publications or presentations related to your research, be sure to include them in your application.

Convey genuine interest in Carnegie Mellon’s programs

Carnegie Mellon wants to admit students who are genuinely interested in their programs and have a clear understanding of what the university has to offer. Take the time to research the computer science department, its faculty, and specific programs that interest you.

In your application, be sure to articulate why you believe Carnegie Mellon is the right fit for your academic and career goals. This will show the admissions committee that you have done your homework and are truly dedicated to becoming a part of the Carnegie Mellon community.

Admissions Tips Summary

Build an outstanding academic record.

To increase your chances of getting accepted into Carnegie Mellon’s Computer Science program, it is essential to build an outstanding academic record. This means excelling in your high school coursework, particularly in math and science.

Take advanced placement courses, if available, and challenge yourself academically. Maintaining a high GPA and achieving good grades will demonstrate your ability to handle the rigorous curriculum at Carnegie Mellon.

Demonstrate passion for computer science

Carnegie Mellon values students who are passionate about computer science. To stand out in the applicant pool, it is important to demonstrate your genuine interest in the field. Participate in coding competitions, join computer science clubs or organizations, and take on coding projects outside of the classroom.

Your extracurricular activities and personal projects will showcase your dedication and commitment to computer science.

Ace standardized test scores

Standardized test scores, such as the SAT or ACT, play a significant role in the admissions process. Aim for a score that is competitive with previous admitted students. Prepare for the tests by utilizing study materials and taking practice exams.

If you feel that your scores do not accurately represent your abilities, consider retaking the tests to improve your chances of acceptance.

Convey why Carnegie Mellon is a top choice

To make your application stand out, it is crucial to convey why Carnegie Mellon is your top choice for studying computer science. Research the program extensively and highlight specific aspects that align with your academic and career goals.

Showcase your knowledge of Carnegie Mellon’s renowned faculty, cutting-edge research opportunities, and strong industry connections. This will demonstrate your enthusiasm for the program and your commitment to contributing to the Carnegie Mellon community.

Remember, while these tips can increase your chances of acceptance, there are no guarantees in the college admissions process. It’s important to showcase your unique qualities and let your true passion for computer science shine through in your application.

With acceptance rates in the single digits, Carnegie Mellon sets a very high bar for computer science applicants. Standing out takes a stellar academic transcript, high test scores, relevant experience, and a persuasive statement of purpose.

However, for those able to gain admission, Carnegie Mellon offers unparalleled opportunities at the peak of technology research and innovation.

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Graduate Tuition: https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/tuition/graduate/scs.html

Student Fees: https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/tuition/fees/index.html

Carnegie Mellon Graduate Student Financial Aid: https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/financial-aid/graduate/index.html

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Its name recognizes the pioneering work of two of the School of Computer Science's co-founders, Allen Newell and Herb Simon, who invented the use of linked-list data structures for representing complex information.

But it also serves as the link between the School of Computer Science and more than 10,000 alumni, colleagues, parents and other friends around the world.

Meeting the demand

Scs now turns away almost 95 percent of those who apply to its undergraduate program, which leads to two obvious questions: can more students be admitted without diluting the qualities that made the program so desirable in the first place if so, how.

Scaling up the CS undergraduate program means “potentially, more dorms, more cafeterias, more post office, more everything,” says Tom Cortina , associate teaching professor and SCS assistant dean for undergraduate education.

Many feel called, but few are chosen for Carnegie Mellon’s undergraduate computer science program. In 2015, according to the university’s admission office, 6,756 high school students applied to SCS for admission as first-year computer science students. Only 350 were admitted—a rate of less than 5.2 percent. (About 150 are expected to enroll.) Compare that to the 19 percent acceptance rate for CMU’s other seven undergraduate programs. It’s even more selective than the acceptance rates at Harvard, Yale and Princeton. “The demand is absolutely stunning,” says Klaus Sutner , SCS teaching professor and associate dean for undergraduate programs. “The admission office is doing a heroic job taking this very large number of qualified students and trying to filter them down. It’s very frustrating to have to turn so many people away.” Prospective students are attracted to an undergraduate computer science curriculum that’s arguably the best in the world—and, according to several published reports, the most lucrative for graduates. That’s left SCS with a dilemma—how can it meet the overwhelming demand without diluting the very qualities that make its undergraduate program so desirable? It’s not—pardon the pun—an academic question. Faculty and administrators are studying possible ways to dramatically increase the size of the undergraduate population, including what that would entail in terms of raising money, adding classrooms, attracting teaching talent and expanding the applicant pool. Of course, no final decision has been made to proceed, no timetable has been attached and no exact target figure has been decided. SCS currently has about 600 undergraduates. If—for example—the decision were made to double that number, Sutner says, scaling up the undergraduate program would not mean simply multiplying everything by two. “That would be a mistake inherently, and also in terms of allocating resources,” he says. Growing the SCS undergraduate program also would have a significant ripple effect on every other university department and unit, from housing, dining and transportation to other undergraduate departments that teach CS majors. “You’re talking, potentially, more dorms, more cafeterias, more post office, more everything,” says Tom Cortina , associate teaching professor and SCS assistant dean for undergraduate education.  “However,” he adds, quickly, “the demand is there.” In fact, the demand for computer science degrees is a national trend, according to the annual Taulbee Survey of U.S. and Canadian colleges and universities conducted by the Computing Research Association. The number of CS majors in the United States has climbed steadily since 2007, with double-digit enrollment increases in three years, the CRA reports. That still may not be enough to meet the requirements of the U.S. economy. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the American economy in 2020 will have 1.4 million jobs that require a computer science degree—but only 400,000 computer science graduates. BLS says that 70 percent of all newly created jobs for the remainder of this decade will be in computer science. It’s not the first time that interest in computer science careers has reached a fever pitch. Many SCS faculty remember the “dot-com boom” of the late 1990s; it was followed by the “dot-com crash” of 2000-2001, and after the crash, the number of students seeking CS degrees plummeted. But the conditions that led to the crash no longer exist, says Frank Pfenning , President’s Professor of Computer Science and head of the Computer Science Department. “There have been deep changes in society since then in terms of the role of computer science, not just in our field but in other fields,” he says. “I expect that (the demand) will probably level out, but it won’t crash.” The tech industry “can’t get enough new engineers,” reported the GeekWire website in 2014, and although more and more college students “want to become computer scientists … in many cases there isn’t enough room or faculty to meet the demand.” A few commentators argue there are actually too many students going into computer science for the number of technology jobs available. Writing in the IEEE Spectrum in 2013 , Robert N. Charette called the perceived shortfall of science and technology graduates “more fiction than reality” and said some CS and IT graduates were not finding work in their fields. But U.S. News and World Report points out that many computer scientists aren’t working in computing because they’re also in demand in non-technology industries such as finance. “Computer science really, really matters, and it matters to non-CS majors,” says David Kosbie (CS’90), assistant teaching professor in the Computer Science Department. “The world needs better medicine, better materials, better art, better science, better movies, more efficient buildings, and all of these things require computing.” At Carnegie Mellon, applications to SCS’s undergraduate program have more than doubled since 2010, when 3,046 high school students applied. Yet the number of slots available for students has remained more or less the same. In 2010, 143 first-year students entered CMU as computer science majors; 151 new undergrads entered SCS in 2011, 127 in 2012, and 138 in both 2013 and 2014. (SCS’s undergraduate program is facing other pressures as well, such as the demand from non-majors for CMU’s computer science classes. Some 700 to 800 students take the Fundamentals of Computer Programming course every year; only 10 percent or so are CS majors. “The number of non-majors who take our courses has exploded,” Pfenning says; according to Cortina, virtually every other college at CMU requires its students to take at least one computer science course.) Comparing the admission rate to CMU’s undergraduate computer science program to those at other universities is difficult, because many comparable universities don’t require students to declare a major until their sophomore year, while others combine computer science with electrical engineering or other disciplines. But there isn’t any difficulty figuring out why so many students want a bachelor’s degree in computer science from CMU. In a word: Jobs. One widely quoted (if unscientific) published survey claims that graduates with a newly minted B.S. in computer science from CMU have the highest starting salaries not only in their field, but in any field. In a survey done by SCS in May 2014, the median starting salary reported by students graduating with a B.S. in computer science was $100,000. According to a Wall Street Journal survey of corporate recruiters, CMU computer science graduates are more highly sought than any others. “We have companies, literally, competing with one another for our students,” Sutner says. Why are SCS grads so highly desired? Pfenning argues the design of the SCS undergraduate program results in a different kind of computer scientist than those graduating from some other universities. “A lot of schools provide a very shallow understanding of computer science as programming,” he says. “For the first two years, we just teach fundamentals, before (students) really start to specialize. We’re not in the business of giving our undergraduates a vocational education. We’re in the business of broadly educating them in the field of computer science.” Students who overspecialize too soon will find themselves “boxed in” later in their careers, Pfenning says. Adds Kosbie: “I think we get really, really good students, and I think we do better with ours than MIT and Stanford.” Besides the major fundraising effort that would be required to increase the number of undergraduates admitted to SCS, other constraints include recruiting teaching-track faculty—in computer science and other departments—and advisors. Graduate programs also would have to grow to provide additional teaching assistants; and unlike other universities, Pfenning notes, CMU doesn’t offer teaching fellowships for Ph.D. students. “If we (were to) have double the number of students doing research, will we have enough faculty to keep them engaged?” Cortina asks. Preserving the gender diversity of SCS’s undergraduate program is also a concern, he says: “If we were to double the size of the program, what would the demographic profile be?” Kosbie and others suspect that scaling the program up drastically would require additional automation—for example, to help grade student work—and some component of online learning. “Eventually, we are going to replace clever course design by humans with more clever course design by computers,” he says. “The future is to beat our competitors in the online game with something better, while still leveraging the tremendous human resources we have here at CMU.” If SCS were to begin admitting more students, Kosbie is concerned about getting a bigger pool of applicants from which to choose. SCS, he says, must work harder to keep top students from bypassing CMU in favor of East Coast and West Coast schools with bigger “brand names.” Kosbie advocates expanding SCS’s outreach to K-12 schools—perhaps even developing a branded “CMU computer science” curriculum that could be offered, free of charge, to educators. “We have got to get into these students’ consciousness more so they don’t just go to MIT and Stanford,” he says. Under the current conditions, Cortina has an additional worry. He thinks SCS’s current low acceptance rates may actually be working against it. “I worry we may be losing some superstars who don’t even bother to apply here due to those very low acceptance rates,” Cortina says. Despite the serious challenges to expanding the program, Pfenning argues that standing still isn’t acceptable, either. Growing the undergraduate program would “require extremely careful planning and research,” he says. “But we currently have to turn away an enormous number of undergrads who would do extremely well here. Industry views our students as really being the top graduates, and we don’t supply enough of them. We would be doing both ourselves and the economy a favor if we could educate additional students.”

Jason Togyer | 412-268-8721 | [email protected]

Carnegie Mellon Acceptance Rate–Overview and By School

Discover a comprehensive overview of Carnegie Mellon University's acceptance rate, broken down by individual schools within the university.

Posted April 1, 2024

Featuring Kirsten S.

Ask Me Anything with Former Ivy League Admissions Committee Member

Wednesday, may 1.

12:00 AM UTC · 45 minutes

Table of Contents

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is renowned for its rigorous academic programs and status as a leading research institution. With a competitive selection process, understanding the acceptance rate at CMU, both overall and by individual schools within the university, is vital for prospective students. In this article, we will explore the intricacies of CMU’s admissions process, examining acceptance rates by individual schools and offering strategic advice to bolster your chances of acceptance.

Carnegie Mellon's Overall Acceptance Rate

Carnegie Mellon University maintains a selective admissions process, reflected in its overall acceptance rate, which stood at approximately 11% for the latest admissions cycle. Despite this low number, prospective students should not be discouraged as there are various schools within CMU that have differing acceptance rates and specialized admission requirements.

The university’s commitment to academic excellence and rigorous standards contributes to its status as a top-tier institution, attracting a competitive applicant pool worldwide. Because of the breadth of applicants each year, CMU’s admissions committees employ a holistic review process, evaluating factors beyond grades and test scores such as extracurricular involvement, leadership potential, essays, and recommendations. This approach ensures that accepted students at Carnegie Mellon not only excel academically but also possess the qualities that align with the university's values and mission.

While the overall acceptance rate may seem low, it is crucial to recognize that CMU comprises several distinct schools, each with its own unique admission requirements and acceptance rates. These schools include the College of Engineering, the School of Computer Science, the College of Fine Arts, the Tepper School of Business, and many more. Each school has its own specialized programs and areas of study, attracting students with diverse interests and talents.

Exploring the acceptance rates across CMU's individual schools can help provide prospective applicants with valuable insights into their chances of admission. By understanding the unique criteria and requirements of each school, applicants can tailor their application strategies effectively to enhance their chances of admission.

Acceptance Rates by Individual Schools within CMU:

School of computer science:.

The School of Computer Science at CMU has an acceptance rate of around 7% . It is highly regarded in the field and known for its rigorous coursework and cutting-edge research opportunities. Prospective students interested in computer science, artificial intelligence, or robotics will find this school particularly appealing.

Within the School of Computer Science, students have the opportunity to work with renowned faculty members who are experts in their respective fields. The school offers a wide range of courses, from foundational computer science principles to advanced topics such as machine learning and data science. Students also have access to state-of-the-art research facilities, where they can collaborate with fellow students and faculty on groundbreaking projects.

Furthermore, the School of Computer Science organizes various industry partnerships and internship programs, allowing students to gain real-world experience and establish valuable connections in the tech industry. Graduates from this program often find themselves in high-demand positions at top tech companies around the world.

Tepper School of Business:

The Tepper School of Business has a comparatively higher acceptance rate of approximately 23% . Known for its top-notch faculty and emphasis on analytical and quantitative skills, the school attracts aspiring business leaders. Strong candidates often possess a strong academic background and demonstrate exceptional leadership potential.

Students at the Tepper School of Business benefit from a comprehensive curriculum that covers various aspects of business management, including finance, marketing, operations, and entrepreneurship. The school also offers specialized programs and concentrations, allowing students to tailor their education to their specific career goals.

In addition to classroom learning, the Tepper School of Business provides numerous experiential learning opportunities, such as case competitions, consulting projects, and internships. These hands-on experiences enable students to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios and develop practical skills that are highly sought after by employers.

Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences

With an acceptance rate hovering around 13% , the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University offers a diverse range of programs in fields such as psychology, economics, history, and international relations. The college also emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, encouraging students to explore connections between different disciplines and apply their knowledge to real-world issues and challenges.

In addition to its academic programs, students at the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences have access to research opportunities, internships, study abroad programs, and extracurricular activities that enrich their educational experience and expand their horizons. By fostering a supportive and inclusive community where students can engage in lively discussions, collaborate on projects, and form lasting connections with peers and faculty members, Dietrich College encourages students to become thoughtful leaders, critical thinkers, and engaged citizens in an ever-changing world.

School of Design

The School of Design at CMU focuses on creative and innovative thinking. With an acceptance rate of around 11% , this school seeks students who exhibit a passion for design, visual communication, and the ability to think critically. Prospective students are encouraged to showcase their portfolio and demonstrate their creativity during the admissions process.

At the School of Design, students are immersed in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment, where they can explore various design disciplines, including graphic design, product design, and interaction design. The curriculum emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, allowing students to develop a strong foundation in design principles and techniques.

One of the unique aspects of the School of Design is its strong connection to industry professionals and design firms. Students have the opportunity to engage in internships, design projects, and mentorship programs, which provide valuable industry exposure and networking opportunities. Graduates from this program often go on to work in prestigious design studios, advertising agencies, or pursue entrepreneurial ventures.

College of Engineering

CMU’s College of Engineering maintains a competitive acceptance rate of 20% . Known for its cutting-edge research and innovative programs, the College of Engineering offers students a dynamic learning environment where they can explore various disciplines within engineering. From the mechanical side of robotics and artificial intelligence to sustainable design and biomedical engineering, the college equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to tackle real-world challenges.

With a wide array of resources and expert faculty always available to students, the College of Engineering at CMU is a hub for innovation and creativity. Students have access to hands-on learning opportunities and collaborative research projects that prepare them for successful careers in engineering and related fields.

Mellon College of Science

With an acceptance rate of approximately 18% , the Mellon College of Science is highly selective, attracting top-tier students with a passion for scientific inquiry and discovery. The college offers rigorous academic programs in areas including biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematical sciences, providing students with rigorous academic curriculum and opportunities for hands-on research experiences.

Students in the Mellon College of Science benefit from state-of-the-art research facilities, cutting-edge laboratories, and collaboration with world-renowned faculty who are leaders in their respective fields. Through experiential learning and mentorship, students develop critical thinking skills, gain practical laboratory experience, and contribute to groundbreaking research that advances scientific knowledge and innovation.

College of Fine Arts

The College of Fine Arts at CMU comprises several specialized schools, each offering unique programs and concentrations in the arts. Below are the acceptance rates for the individual schools within the College of Fine Arts:

• School of Architecture: 34%
• School of Art: 23%
• School of Drama: 4%
• School of Music: 31%

With a diverse array of programs spanning theater, music, visual arts, and architecture, the College of Fine Arts fosters creativity and innovation in its students. The college provides creative facilities including studios, performance spaces, and exhibition galleries along with access to world-class faculty who are all accomplished artists and scholars in their respective fields.

Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy

With an acceptance rate of approximately 24% , the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy attracts students passionate about leveraging technology and policy to effect positive change. Students benefit from innovative programs that blend cutting-edge coursework in information systems with rigorous training in public policy, preparing them for impactful careers in areas such as data analytics, cybersecurity, and public administration.

The college emphasizes experiential learning, encouraging students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios through internships and research projects. Graduates of the Heinz College emerge as leaders equipped to tackle society's most pressing issues at the intersection of technology and public policy.

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Factors Impacting Admissions at CMU

In Carnegie Mellon’s admissions process, several factors come into play to ensure a top-tier selection of students who align with the university’s values and mission while demonstrating academic potential. Academic performance is a primary consideration, with emphasis on strong grades, SAT or ACT scores, and challenging coursework related to the intended major. Admissions officers meticulously review transcripts for evidence of students’ readiness for CMU’s academic rigor.

Beyond academic achievement, CMU values extracurricular involvement as evidence of a well-rounded individual who contributes positively to the community. Participation in activities, leadership roles, community service, and internships can enhance applicants' profiles, showcasing their ability to balance academic and non-academic pursuits effectively.

The admissions essay and personal statement also offer applicants a prime opportunity to articulate their unique experiences, motivations, and aspirations. Specifically, CMU values insightful and well-crafted responses that demonstrate a genuine connection between applicants’ goals and the university’s academic offerings. Likewise, letters of recommendation from teachers, mentors, or employers can further illuminate an applicant’s character and potential for success at CMU.

Read: Best Free Resources to Prepare for the ACT and SAT

Understanding CMU's Admissions Standards and Trends

It is crucial to remain aware of CMU's admissions standards and trends in order to maintain realistic expectations throughout the application process. Admissions standards are rigorous and may change from year to year depending on factors such as the applicant pool and program capacity. Staying informed through official CMU communication channels, attending information sessions, and engaging with admissions representatives can provide valuable insights.

As one of the top universities in the world, Carnegie Mellon holds a commitment to academic excellence and seeks driven, passionate individuals who will contribute to its vibrant community. By understanding CMU's acceptance rate, admission factors, and employing effective strategies, prospective students can increase their chances of securing a spot at this prestigious institution and embarking on a fulfilling academic journey.

• Carnegie Mellon University: College Application & Program Overview
• How to Pick the Best College for You
• The ACT vs. SAT: Which to Take and How to Ace Both
• What Looks Good on College Applications? 6 Tips to Make Your Application Stand Out

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How to Get Into Carnegie Mellon: Admissions Stats + Tips

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What’s Covered:

How hard is it to get into carnegie mellon, average academic profile of accepted cmu students, what is cmu looking for, how to improve your chances of getting into cmu.

Founded in 1900, Carnegie Mellon University is a research university with a reputation for excellence in areas like STEM and performing arts. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the university houses seven schools and colleges with undergraduate programs:

• College of Engineering
• College of Fine Arts
• Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Heinz College of Information Systems & Public Policy Management
• Mellon College of Science
• School of Computer Science
• Tepper School of Business

CMU counts Ted Danson, Michael Chabon, Judith Resnik, Andy Warhol, and Holly Hunter among its alumni. Hoping to join their ranks? Here’s what to know about admission to this premier university.

For the class of 2025, 26,189 students applied, and 4,524 were accepted, for an admissions rate of 17.3%.

While CMU’s acceptance rate is incredibly low, your chances of admission could be higher or lower, depending on your unique factors.

Use CollegeVine’s free admissions calculator to better understand your chances of acceptance. This tool takes into account factors like GPA, test scores, and extracurriculars and gives you tips on how to improve your odds.

CMU’s average high school GPA for the freshman class is 3.85 . Approximately 32% had a GPA of 4.0.

CMU is currently test-optional. For the class of 2025, 76% of students submitted SAT scores, and 35.2% submitted ACT scores.

The middle 50% range for SAT scores was 700-760 (ERW)/ 760-800 (M). For ACT scores, it was 33-35 .

Of those submitting class rank (45.5%), 88.5% of students were in the top 10% of their graduating high school class, and 99.7% were in the top 25%.

“The world needs more people like you,” says CMU. “The furiously curious kind. The deeply driven kind. The kind who wants to make life better for all humankind.”

Carnegie Mellon employs a holistic admissions process when reviewing applications. For STEM majors, particularly those in computer science, extremely strong academics, extracurriculars, and essays are a must. Admission is less competitive for non-STEM majors, however.

According to the university, “diversity, equity, inclusion, collaboration, communication, community engagement, concern for others, self-directed learning, and critical thinking” are a priority. “We also encourage you to consider how to share your experiences and aspirations so the admission committee can learn more about you as an applicant, student and person beyond a list of accomplishments,” it notes.

Rigor of coursework, in addition to your grades, play a large role in the admissions process. That means you should be engaging in high-level courses, the most challenging available to you. 

Bear in mind that each school or college has its own criteria. For example, the College of Fine Arts will evaluate your artistic performance in your specialty, while the College of Engineering prioritizes STEM coursework and extracurriculars.

NB: The university does not consider demonstrated interest.

How Carnegie Mellon Evaluates Applications

According to the 2020–2021 Common Data Set, CMU considers these factors “ very important ”:

• Rigor of secondary school record
• Academic GPA 
• Extracurricular activities
• Volunteer work
• Work experience 

These factors are “ important ”:

• Standardized test scores
• Application essay
• Recommendation(s) 
• Talent/ability
• Character/personal qualities
• First generation
• Alumni/ae relation
• Racial/ethnic status

And these are “ not considered ”:

• Geographical residence 
• State residency 
• Religious affiliation/commitment 
• Level of applicant interest

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

1. Achieve at least a 3.85 while taking the most challenging classes available.

Many selective schools like CMU use the Academic Index , which combines your academic metrics such as grades and GPA to form a single value, to ensure applicants meet their minimum standards. It’s important to clear this threshold by having at least the minimum GPA at CMU — 3.85 — and being in the top 10% of your class if your school ranks, as the majority of students are.

Remember, too, that Carnegie Mellon also wants to see you taking an exceptionally challenging curriculum, the most rigorous available to you. This will help separate you from other talented students. (Here’s some guidance on how many APs you should take.)

If your GPA is lower, and you’re earlier on in your high school career, check out our tips for increasing your GPA . If you’re a junior or senior, it will be harder to increase your GPA, so the easiest way to increase your Academic Index is to get a higher test score.

2. Aim for a 1560 SAT and 35 ACT.

You should aim for scores in the 75th percentile of admitted students at CMU, although anything with the middle 50% range (1460-1560 SAT/33-35 ACT) is acceptable.

In light of COVID-19 test-optional policies , we advise students to take standardized tests if they can safely do so and submit them if they are at least the 25th percentile of admitted students. Get recommendations on whether or not you should apply test-optional using our free Chancing Engine . 

While CMU does not say that it superscores, it does say this: “If you choose to submit scores, we’re interested in the general pattern of your scores but will give the most weight to the highest score you’ve received on any of the exams.”

Want to improve your SAT/ACT score? Check out these free CollegeVine resources:

• How to Get a Perfect 1600 Score on the SAT
• How to Get a Perfect 36 Score on the ACT
• More SAT Info and Tips
• More ACT Info and Tips

3. Cultivate at least one or two Tier 1-2 extracurriculars (find your “spike”).

“By looking at this non-academic information, we develop a sense of your personality, motivation and social responsibility,” CMU says. 

The 4 Tiers of Extracurriculars offer an outline of how to formulate your extracurricular activity plan. You should aim for at least a couple of Tier 1-2 activities — the most exceptional and rare — along with a handful of the more common Tier 3-4 activities.

Find a consistent “ spike ” — area of passion — for your activities, no matter the tier. This means one or two areas of focus, around which your extracurriculars should be grouped. This is especially true at Carnegie Mellon, where students focus on specific passions at particular schools or college. 

For example, you might demonstrate your passion for music by playing in your all-state orchestra or ensemble, usually a Tier 1-2 activity, along with playing for your school’s orchestra and performing locally. You might also teach lessons, probably a Tier 3 activity.

4. Write engaging essays.

“The best essay you can write helps us learn about you!” CMU says.

Essays are the best way to share your personality and voice with the adcom. This year, Carnegie Mellon has the following prompts in their supplement:

1. Most students choose their intended major or area of study based on a passion or inspiration that’s developed over time — what passion or inspiration led you to choose this area of study?

2. Many students pursue college for a specific degree, career opportunity or personal goal. Whichever it may be, learning will be critical to achieve your ultimate goal. As you think ahead to the process of learning during your college years, how will you define a successful college experience?

3. Consider your application as a whole. What do you personally want to emphasize about your application for the admission committee’s consideration? Highlight something that’s important to you or something you haven’t had a chance to share. Tell us, don’t show us (no websites please).

“We want to know more about your passions, goals, aspirations and experiences to gain a deeper understanding of who you are beyond your transcript,” CMU says. For more guidance on how to write these essays, review our CMU essay breakdown . 

5. Apply Early Decision.

Carnegie Mellon doesn’t publish its Early Decision acceptance rate, but generally speaking, these rates are higher than the overall admission rate. That’s because schools like CMU want to admit students who will attend, and ED plans are binding. CMU offers both ED I and ED II.

It’s important to remember that you are required to attend CMU if you apply under an ED plan and are admitted. This provides a number of advantages, including a boost in your chances of acceptance, but there are also some disadvantages. For example, you won’t be able to compare or leverage financial aid offers.

CMU also has an Early Admission plan for “highly qualified” high school juniors. ( Learn more about this plan.)

6. Ask for recommendations from teachers who know you well.

CMU requires a recommendation from both a school counselor and a teacher. These recommendations play an important role in the admissions process.

When considering the teacher to ask, select someone who can attest to both your academic abilities and your personal qualities. According to the university, this doesn’t need to be a teacher in your academic area but rather the one who “knows you the best.”

7. Apply for the right school or program.

Carnegie Mellon is divided into several colleges and schools, each of which considers different factors and has separate requirements for admission.

Don’t apply for a program you don’t really want to pursue because you think it will be easier to get in — the adcom will likely see through this. Also, keep in mind that the schools have different criteria for evaluating students, so your profile won’t make sense if it doesn’t align with what that college is looking for.

How to Apply to CMU

* Early Decision 1 is not available for acting, directing, dramaturgy, music theater or the School of Music.

** RD deadline for Schools of Drama and Music: December 1. Early Decision 2 is not available for the Schools of Drama, Music, Design or Art.

Application Requirements

• Common Application
• $75 application fee
• Official high school transcript
• Official standardized testing score reports (currently optional)
• Secondary school counselor evaluation
• Teacher recommendation
• Common Application essay
• Carnegie Mellon Common Application Writing Supplement
• Pre-screen, audition, or portfolio review (School of Drama and School of Music only)
• Portfolio and creative materials (Schools of Architecture, the School of Art, and the School of Design only)

NB: There are additional application requirements for the College of Fine Arts.

Learn more about Carnegie Mellon

• What is Carnegie Mellon’s Acceptance Rate & Admissions Requirements?
• What is Carnegie Mellon University Known For?
• Carnegie Mellon Student Panel

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Carnegie Mellon University Admissions

Carnegie Mellon University has an acceptance rate of 11%. Half the applicants admitted to Carnegie Mellon University who submitted test scores have an SAT score between 1490 and 1570 or an ACT score of 34 and 35. However, one quarter of admitted applicants achieved scores above these ranges and one quarter scored below these ranges. The application deadline at Carnegie Mellon University is Jan. 1.

Admissions officials at Carnegie Mellon University consider a student's GPA a very important academic factor. An applicant's high school class rank, when available, is considered very important and letters of recommendation are considered important for admissions officials at Carnegie Mellon University. To see additional academic factors along with other school data, learn more about College Compass .

Carnegie Mellon University Admissions Stats

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Carnegie Mellon University Admissions Requirements

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Neither required/recommended

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Machine Learning - CMU

Joint machine learning phd degrees, students interested in a ml- joint phd degree should first apply to the phd program that best aligns with their research interests., phd in statistics & machine learning.

This PhD program differs from the Machine Learning PhD program in that it places significantly more emphasis on preparation in statistical theory and methodology. Similarly, this program differs from the Statistics PhD program in its emphasis on machine learning and computer science. The Joint PhD Program in Machine Learning and Statistics is aimed at preparing students for academic careers in both CS and Statistics departments at top universities or industry.

The student must be advised by a faculty from the home department along with a Core Faculty member from the joint department as a co-mentor. Joint Statistics-MLD faculty cannot serve both roles.  Both faculty must be identified at the time of admission to the joint program.

Note: MLD students are able to apply for this program after they have completed the courses and have a sponsoring faculty in Statistics make the case for admission.

PhD in Machine Learning & Public Policy

The Joint Ph.D. Program in Machine Learning and Public Policy is a program operated jointly by faculty in Machine Learning and the Heinz College (Schools of Public Policy, Information Systems, and Management). Students will gain the skills necessary to develop new state-of-the-art machine learning technologies and apply these successfully to real-world policy domains.

PhD in Neural Computation & Machine Learning

This Joint PhD program trains students in the application of machine learning to neuroscience and neural inspired machine learning algorithms by combining core elements of the ML PhD program and the Program in Neural Computation (PNC) offered by the Neuroscience Institute (NI) .

The MLD requirements for graduation with a Joint-ML PhD degree are the same as those for the regular MLD PhD requirements (including the requirement for the PhD thesis committee composition), with only the following differences:

• A Joint-ML PhD thesis will be a contribution to the combination of Machine Learning and the other field.
• The single elective course, the speaking and writing skills requirements, and the Data Analysis requirement (10718) may be satisfied within the student’s home department.
• A Joint-ML PhD student is still required to TA twice, but only one TA-ship has to be within MLD

A student in a Joint-ML PhD degree may earn a MS degree along the way, either from their home department or from MLD, but not from both.  To earn an MS in Research from MLD they must satisfy all the relevant requirements .

To be considered...

In order to apply to a Joint ML PhD degree, a student must already be enrolled in one of the participating PhD programs in Statistics, PNC or Heinz.

Before applying, a student must:

• Take 10715, 36705, 10716 and earn at least a grade of A- in your first attempt to take each course. Letter grades are required. (Students who took courses before June 2023, will be Grandfathered in under the previous of B+ for the courses already taken.)
• Identify a MLD Core Faculty member who agrees to serve as their MLD mentor . 

Applications must be submitted by May 31st .

How to Apply:

Please submit your online application by May 31st to include the following information:

• Statement of Purpose of why you would like to pursue the joint PhD degree.
• Your updated CV
• Your unofficial Carnegie Mellon Transcript, including your letter grades for 10715, 36705 & 10716.
• Your GRE & TOEFL (if applicable) from your original application to your current PhD program.
• Recommenders: (1) Ask your advisor to send a letter of recommendation with their agreement that the joint program would be a good thing for you to pursue and how it would benefit your research. (2) Ask your ML Core Faculty Mentor to send a letter of recommendation including why you would be a good fit for the joint program.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the admissions criteria for this program? What are the minimum TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, and GPA scores? How competitive is the selection process?

The MSAII program is highly competitive, with a typical acceptance rate of about ten percent. Qualified applicants generally have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. Regardless of your undergraduate major, a strong background in computer science and mathematics is a prerequisite for acceptance.

English language competency is strongly correlated to success in the program. The minimum standard for acceptance is a total TOEFL iBT score of at least 100  or an IELTS score of at least 7.5.   These scores may be more than two years old if you have pursued or are pursuing a bachelor's or graduate degree in the United States.  

The degree program does not have a minimum GRE requirement. However, you must submit a GRE score.  The CMU School of Computer Science requires a minimum GPA of 3.0.  We find that previous academic performance is the strongest predictor of success in SCS graduate programs.

I have an undergraduate degree in a field outside of computer science. Am I eligible to apply to the MSAII program with this degree? Will a computer science undergraduate have an advantage over me?

Most of the MSAII courses require an undergraduate-level background in statistics or computer science. Thus, the applicant must show evidence of mastery of this material. This evidence is automatically available for students with an undergraduate degree in CS from top universities. Most students with non-CS degrees haven't taken a sufficient number of courses in computer science. But if you have, you should make this evidence explicitly clear in your application.

The application requires a statement of purpose (SOP). What makes a good SOP?

We are looking for significant, reliable evidence that you can succeed in the rigorous MSAII program.  In additional to strong academics, it is beneficial to show evidence that you can work as a contributing member of a team.  You may also take this opportunity to explain any apparent weaknesses in your application. Most important, your statement of purpose should be written solely by you and provide an accurate summary of your experiences, goals and reasons for applying to the MSAII program.

The application requires letters of recommendation. From whom should I solicit letters?

The strongest letters come from respected advisors and managers who know you well and have experience directly supervising your work. They often focus on your specific accomplishments while working under them, and what specific traits, skills or achievements make you remarkable. A letter from a professor who taught you in a class is acceptable, but often does not provide great depth of detail. Letters from people who know you only in a personal capacity and cannot comment on your academic or professional work are not appropriate.  Letter from high-ranking univeristy officials, such as deans, provosts and vice-presidents, but who have not observed your work should not be submitted.

The application process asks for publications. Are these required?

No, publications are not required, but they good evidence of your ability to innovate.  We do not require publications because the MSAII is not intended as a research degree.  Some of our admitted students have already published articles. Publications in lesser-known conferences are still valuable, although all publications should be easily verifiable if not directly linked in your application.

The application asks for work experience. Is this required?

No, work experience is not required. However, we value some types of work experience highly, particularly if it is similar to the type of work our graduates perform, or highly relevant to your interest in the program.  Work experience can demonstrate to us and prospective employers that you have the ability to function in a job setting instead of just an academic one.

I applied but I did not get in. Can you tell me why?

Unfortunately, the number of available slots in our program and the high volume of applicants mean that many qualified applicants will not be accepted. Due to the large number of applicants, we do not respond individually to applicants that were not accepted. The generic reason that an application is turned down is that we were able to fill the entering class with students who were believed to have a greater chance of success in the program.  Not being admitted is not a reflection on your qualifications or your preparations, but merely on how you ranked with respect to a large number of other aspirants.  Previous unsuccessful applicants are not prohibited from re-applying in future cycles.

I applied but did not get in, and I have new evidence for you. Will you reconsider my application?

No supporting documents or information can be submitted after the application deadline. If you feel that your qualifications have significantly improved in light of recent developments, you may choose to reapply in the next admissions cycle.

What is the difference between various CMU School of Computer Science Masters degrees?

For a description of the various Masters degrees offered in the School of Computer Science, view the school’s program’s page .

Can I continue to a PhD program after I graduate from the MSAII program?

It is not expected or intended that MSAII graduates will go on for a Ph.D., as the MSAII is a professional degree. However, successful completion of the MSAII program would likely strengthen your application to any PhD program in a related field, and it is expected that some of our graduates would enter highly competitive PhD programs.

What about internships?

All students are required to complete a company internship during the summer between their first and second years. Internships provide an opportunity for an industrial development or industrial experience before graduation. This experience is a vital component in learning to utilize the skills you develop in the program in real-world applications, while also providing valuable access to the company sponsoring the internship and generally improving your employment prospects.

How easy is it to get an internship?

CMU students are in high demand. Hundreds of companies (e.g., Apple, Amazon, Bank of America, Boeing, Booz Allen, Ebay, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, MITRE, Motorola, Oracle, Paypal, Salesforce.com, UBS, VMware, Yahoo, etc.) perform on-campus interviewing at CMU for internships, so with minimal effort a student can typically secure an internship with a Fortune 500 company or with a highly promising start-up.

What about elective courses?

The Curriculum page lists numerous approved elective courses for which no futher permission is required.  If you want to take a graduate-level course that is not listed, you must seek permission of the MSAII Director.  Permission will normally be given if the course is reasonably related to objecives of the MSAII program.

Can I take courses in other CMU schools, such as Heinz College and the Tepper School of Business?

Yes, with permission from the MSAII director. However getting into the course may be difficult, depending on demand. Each school always gives priority to its own students over students from other schools within the university.

Is there a comprehensive exam or graduation exam outside of regular coursework required for the program?

There are no comprehensive exams in the MSAII program. The students integrate their academic experience with practical applications via the Capstone project.

What is the relationship between the MSAII and the MSBIC programs?

The MSBIC program was highly successful, but its emphasis on biotechnology was seen as limiting in an era of expanding applications for AI.  The program was renamed as the MSAII and some of its requirements were changed.  For example, biotechnology courses are no longer required, but may be taken as electives.  Also, the curriculum was altered to include intrapreneurship as well as entrepreneurship.  No MSBIC applicants were admitted after 2017.  Students who want to concentrate in biotechnology are encouraged to apply to the M.S. in Computational Biology.  

What percentage of MSAII students complete the program?

Our selective admission process is designed to only admit students who can handle the high course load of the degree. 

What support do you provide for women in computing?

For decades, the School of Computer Scinec has worked hard, and succeeded, at creating an environment of opportunity and equality for women.  This is evidence by the high proportion of women students we have in comparison to other institutions.  The mission of Women@SCS is to create, encourage, and support women's academic, social and professional opportunities in the computer sciences and to promote the breadth of the field and its diverse community. The Women @ SCS Advisory Committee consists of undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty within the School of Computer Science.  

Where can I find out more about graduate education at Carnegie Mellon University?

Visit the  Carnegie Mellon University Graduate Education website .

Ph.D. Program Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to have GRE scores? No. Applicants are not required to submit GRE scores, and we will not use GRE scores in our admissions process.

Do I have to take the GRE subject test? No. Applicants are not required to submit a GRE advanced subject exam score.

Do I have to take the TOEFL (or equivalent exam)?   The TOEFL (or equivalent, e.g., Duolingo exam) is required for ALL students whose native language is not English. This is true even if you have or are completing a degree from a university in the United States. We are generally able to accept "expired" TOEFL scores, so long as you have retained a copy of the official scoresheet.

What is the recommended TOEFL score?   A successful applicant will normally have a total iBT score of at least 100 with no subscore less than 25. Applicants may be admitted with slightly lower scores in exceptional circumstances.

I’m only applying to the HCII at Carnegie Mellon. Is that a good idea?   No. If you are serious about doing Ph.D.-level research in HCI you should apply to other good HCI programs. (See HCIBIB.org. ) Our resources are limited and we are forced to turn away very good students each year.

What are my chances of getting in?   For the fall 2019 term, we admitted just over ten percent of applicants. Our historical admittance rates hover between five and 10 percent.

I don’t have a strong programming background. May I still apply? Will I have to take a lot of programming courses?   We expect and encourage applicants from a wide range of HCI-related backgrounds, including technical, social science and design fields. While it is important for HCI researchers to have some understanding of the technical aspects of their work, and at least one technical course will be needed in your program of study, we do not expect all  applicants to have strong programming or other technical skills.

Should I visit before I apply (and will that help my chances of being admitted)?   Typically, no. We normally do not encourage people to visit before they apply because it does not generally improve one’s chances of admission. We do, however, invite all admitted students to visit at our expense during our Open House in March. The Open House provides the opportunity to meet with faculty and current students, and to explore the university environment.

Can I apply for admission starting in the spring instead of the fall?   No. We only process admissions once a year. Applications are accepted until the December deadline for admission the following fall.

Can I work on my Ph.D. in HCI part time?   No. We expect all our students to work full time on their Ph.D. studies for the duration of their time with us.

Can I complete my Ph.D. in HCI online? No. Our program is an in-person program.

Is financial aid available?   Yes. All students who remain in good standing receive full tuition and a stipend. Exact details of our financial aid package will be provided at the time of admission.

Do I need to fill out an application for financial aid?   No. All students admitted to our program are funded without applying.

Should I apply for externally funded fellowships (such as the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship ?) Yes. All Ph.D. students are required to apply for at least one fellowship before they graduate. Students interested in the learning sciences should consider applying to the Program for Interdisciplinary Education Research .

I just finished my undergraduate work. Should I apply for the Masters of HCI program first as preparation for my Ph.D. work? The MHCI program is not intended to serve as preparation for our Ph.D. program (or generally to prepare you to be a researcher). It is intended to teach the skills necessary for professional practice in various HCI-related careers. The Ph.D. program, on the other hand, is designed to prepare you to be an HCI researcher. Because of the different emphasis of each program, applying to the MHCI program with intention to later move to the Ph.D. program is normally not a good idea.

If I am not accepted for the HCII Ph.D. program, will I be automatically considered for admission to the Masters of HCI program instead?   No. Because each program has different educational goals, their admissions processes are separate and people are not moved from one to the other. As noted in the previous question, the two programs are designed to address different goals. Therefore, we normally don’t expect students to apply to both the MHCI and Ph.D. programs. If you believe that you could use additional exposure to research before trying out a Ph.D. program, you might consider applying for research-oriented Masters programs in HCI at  other universities  (many staffed by our graduates!).

How many students are currently in the program? Approximately 80.

Questions? If you have questions that are not answered here or on the applygrad (online application) website , send inquiries to [email protected] .

Ph.D. Program

Current Students

Emphasis Areas

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Requirements

Resources for Current Students

Outgoing Students & Postdocs

Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction Carnegie Mellon University 5000 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3891

Leah Buffington Ph.D. Program Coordinator Phone: 412-268-5037 Email us

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• Carnegie Mellon University

How to get into Carnegie Mellon University 2024: Acceptance Rate & Tips

Carnegie Mellon University, or CMU for short, is steeped in technological innovation, theatrical performance, and design. But the university has plenty else to offer as well, including a highly selective undergraduate business program.

With a beautiful campus situated just outside of downtown Pittsburgh, CMU thrums with inventive energy. The university’s world-renowned School of Computer Science has produced some of the most eminent academics and business leaders in the world, facilitating the formation of burgeoning tech companies like DuoLingo. Its extensive graduate research programs often create opportunities for undergraduates to engage in sophisticated projects they’d be unlikely to find anywhere else.

The entrepreneurial spirit also influences the business program, with hotbeds like the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship renowned for bringing together future CIO and CEO teams. And though the university has a reputation for being intensely academic, CMU students are proud of their quirks and happy to throw themselves into unique traditions like Buggy . The Tartans pride themselves on both unabashed geekiness and intense collaboration.

But just how hard is it to gain entry to the crown jewel of Pittsburgh? Well, it’s extremely hard. For the Class of 2025, just 17.5% of students were admitted out of an applicant pool of 26,189. And these admitted students had astonishingly strong academic track records nearly across the board. Fortunately, Carnegie Mellon is all about the data—so there’s plenty to share.

Here is how the most recent incoming class at CMU looked:

More College Profiles:

• University of Michigan
• New York University (NYU)
• University of Texas Austin
• Cornell University

SAT/ACT scores

And this is the competition they faced in order to get there:

2020 Application Statistics

• For more detailed information on demographics, academic profiles, and student outcomes, see CMU’s extensive admissions report .

The numbers are daunting to say the least. But they don’t always give the full picture. And they’re representative of macro trends in worldwide education that are outside any single person’s control. That’s why it’s more effective to first understand these numbers in context, then use your time to focus on preparing your own personal application as best you can. 

Why was there such a big increase in applications?

The spike in application numbers was a trend across most elite American colleges and universities. The simplest explanation for this phenomenon is the decision for many top schools–including CMU –to remove the standardized testing requirement for applicants due to COVID. It’s logical that this change led to more students feeling they would be qualified for admittance to the university.

Beyond that, more students than usual who were admitted in the previous cycle deferred their enrollment, leaving fewer seats in the Class of 2025. Some students who’d applied the previous year even decided not to matriculate to any university, given the pandemic. Instead, they chose to take a gap year and reapply to their dream schools. Finally, students are continuing to apply to more and more schools, as evidenced by the 11% increase in applications submitted through the Common App despite an increase of only 2% in the total number of applicants (a trend reflected also in the UC application system).

All of these factors, among others, contributed to the massive growth in the number of applications to top universities like CMU .

What do you need to apply to Carnegie Mellon?

In order to apply to CMU, you will need to complete the Common Application , which includes three short-answer essay questions for the Carnegie Mellon Writing Supplement. The university has decided to continue its test-optional policy for the 2022-2023 cycle, but the admissions department makes explicit note that they will factor your scores into their decision if you choose to submit them. And given their averages, you will need to submit very strong scores indeed to make this worth your while.

If you are committed to attending CMU as your first choice university, and are applying Early Decision, you can apply in the Early Decision 1 binding application program by November 1. Carnegie Mellon also offers an Early Decision 2 deadline of January 3. It’s worth noting that if you are applying to some programs—particularly those in the performing arts—you may not be eligible for these Early Decision application schemes. In this case, or in case you prefer not to be bound to CMU, you will need to submit your application by the university’s one Regular Decision deadline, which is also January 3. 

As you complete the Common Application for CMU, you will need to submit the following materials:

• The fully filled in Common Application form
• The Carnegie Mellon Writing Supplement, which consists of three short essays 
• Your official high school transcript
• One teacher recommendation
• Secondary school counselor recommendation
• The Common Application essay
• The Common Application Mid Year Report with your updated grades if these are available
• Official score reports (optional for 2022-2023)
• English language testing (if you are a non-native speaker and have not been studying in English)
• A $75 application fee
• If you are applying to the School of Drama, Music, Art, Architecture, or Design, or if you are a home-schooled applicant, you will need to submit a supplementary portfolio in order to be eligible for admission.

For more detailed information, especially on special program-specific requirements, check out CMU’s comprehensive page on Undergraduate Admission Requirements and make sure that you are fully prepared to submit your application to the program of your choice.

What is Carnegie Mellon looking for?

Carnegie Mellon really wants students who really want to be at Carnegie Mellon . What does this mean, though? Don’t all schools want this?

Yes, but CMU has a particular position. They are not in a highly sought-after location, yet they are competing with institutions in Boston and the SF Bay. Many students don’t have a chance to visit campus. Many applicants apply because they know of the STEM opportunities, or other offerings, but don’t have a specific motivation for studying at CMU versus another university in the same echelon.

Thus, though CMU is particularly keen to find students oriented toward teamwork and intellectual eccentricity, they are also analyzing each application for convincing signs of Fit. And Fit, for them, is not only about the character of the student, but about how much the student really understands the impact they could have at CMU and how the college will help them get where they want to go after they graduate.

To maximize your chances of admission, dive deep into research on the school’s opportunities. Look at where CMU is investing its resources: labs, projects, new faculty hires. Speak to current students about life in Pittsburgh. Envision yourself in a rapidly rebounding Rust Belt city. Consume the university’s YouTube videos, social media posts, news stories, and more. Then, connect every exciting detail to your own desires, or principles, or talents.

CMU values demonstrated interest highly, and puts emphasis on recommendation letters. That said, though the university gives the option to submit three recommendation letters, the committee will only take two of these into consideration in their review. For more details on how CMu assesses applications, check out the university’s page on Admissions Consideration . 

Whatever your individual angle might be, show that you will be proactive in launching new projects with new partners while on campus. Whether they are in business, engineering, design, drama, or another field entirely, CMU seeks students who have an intense drive to pursue answers to big questions or solutions to influential problems alongside their classmates.

How can you get into Carnegie Mellon?

There are a variety of ways a top high school student can approach applying to CMU so as to maximize their chances of admission. The specific decisions of what to highlight and how to make it unforgettable boil down to individual life stories and circumstances that have shaped you into who you are today. That crucial piece of the application—the storytelling—can only come from intensive reflection and earnest hard work. 

However, there are certainly decisions you can make to position yourself to submit a profile that bolsters your personal story and provides you top ratings on several of CMU’s criteria:

• Plan ahead to take the most challenging courses offered at your school (and beyond).
• Demonstrate your talents or hobbies through pursuing them in new ways and using them to connect with other communities.
• Really learn about Pittsburgh and the CMU culture: subscribe to mailing lists about local events, watch YouTube vloggers who document their experiences in the city, follow famous cultural institutions on social media, and more.
• Consider honestly how a suburban campus environment will work best for you as a learner and person so that you can show the university that you are being intentional about your decision, and thus, that you are highly likely to accept an offer of admission.
• Research the facilities, programs, events, and traditions that CMU proudly promotes; speak to current students about these experiences, if possible.
• Challenge yourself intellectually, professionally, and socially in demonstrable ways.
• Practice telling adults about who you are and what you care about—make sure to note their confusion or excitement, and use this implicit feedback to improve your storytelling.
• Invest significant time in writing and revising your supplemental essays to be as compelling and memorable as possible—do thorough research and carefully consider which of your communities has shaped you most
• Explore your academic passions beyond your coursework, ideally through research or other projects that show you wrestling with big questions or problems.
• Connect with CMU admissions officers who visit your school or area and ask them relevant, specific questions about your own profile’s match with the university.
• Seek to understand problems in your community and the world. Be proactive in formulating solutions that are ambitious but achievable. Then, work toward implementing these solutions in a way that integrates modern science and technology.

If you’re able to demonstrate your connection to Carnegie Mellon’s distinctive offerings, achieve an outstanding GPA in the hardest classes, engage meaningfully with personal interests and community problems, and take charge of your own goals by acting on your principles, you’ll set yourself up to submit an application that will impress the CMU Admissions Committee. None of this is easy, but if you’re deeply motivated to be at Carnegie Mellon, use every tactic we’ve listed above in order to show it.

Gain a competitive edge in the Carnegie Mellon’s admissions process by collaborating with our skilled College Consultants who understand the university’s unique requirements.

Planning to take the SAT to boost your chances? Achieve your goals with our flexible and convenient SAT tutors online sessions , tailored to your unique learning style and pace.

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Graduate programs

The College of Engineering provides a range of graduate programs that are both traditional and interdisciplinary. The programs are designed to foster a maker ecosystem where students and faculty from different disciplines collaborate to create solutions to complex problems in industry, government, and academia.

Graduates of these programs have excellent prospects in various fields, including industry, government, academia, and the corporate world. The college’s global alumni network is transforming the engineering profession by using an authentic interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving, which is the hallmark of Carnegie Mellon. Every day, our engineers are making a significant impact.

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Master’s of Artificial Intelligence​ Engineering

The​ Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence​ Engineering degrees (MS AIE) take AI and embed it into engineering frameworks, including engineering representations, applications within engineered systems, and discipline-specific interpretations of system outcomes. Within these frameworks, students will learn to invent, tune, and specialize AI algorithms and tools for engineering systems.

• Learn more about our MS AIE degrees

Dual-degree Ph.D. program with Howard University

Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering and Howard University’s College of Engineering and Architecture jointly offer a dual Ph.D. program that grants doctoral degrees from both institutions. This unique program provides students with two academic advisors and access to an extensive range of courses and research facilities. Moreover, students benefit from being part of vibrant research communities in two major metropolitan areas: Pittsburgh, PA, and Washington, DC.

Learn more about the Howard Dual-degree program

The student perspective

News & Events

Engineering design, innovation, and entrepreneurship

First-year students are ready to to pursue a new additional major in Engineering Design, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship.

Students in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Junior Projects course worked with a team of local professionals to develop plans to transform the four-block span of Craig Street between Fifth and Forbes Avenues into a great college town street.

Integrating the built, natural, and information environments

Conrad Tucker named new director of CMU-Africa

Conrad Tucker has been named the next director of Carnegie Mellon University Africa. In his new role, Tucker will also serve as the College of Engineering’s Associate Dean for International Programs in Africa.

Artificial Intelligence

Chop, chop: Improving food prep with the power of AI

Researchers at CMU combined two vision foundational models—models trained on large visual data sets—to help a robot arm recognize the shape and the type of fruit and vegetable slices.

Energy & Environment

Dowd Fellowship encourages ambitious student research

Four Ph.D. students in the College of Engineering have received funding to pursue research on valuable, relatively unexplored topics.

CMU celebrates Alan Magee Scaife Hall grand opening

The Alan Magee Scaife Hall and Gordon E. Moore Engineering Quad bring energy and vibrancy to the heart of Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering.

Scaife Hall to transform research and education at CMU

Carnegie Mellon hosts grand opening of reimagined Scaife Hall.

Researchers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering used fossil evidence to engineer a soft robotic replica of pleurocystitids, a marine organism that existed nearly 450 million years ago and is believed to be one of the first echinoderms capable of movement using a muscular stem.

450-million-year-old organism finds new life in Softbotics

Health & Biomedicine

Curing cancer is not enough

Colette Bilynsky pursues both cancer research and health policy to ensure that potential cures are affordable and accessible to all.

Liquid crystals and the hunt for defects

Civil and environmental engineering researchers are creating tools to help unlock the secrets of liquid crystals.

A new course for prosthetics care

Between his studies, a teaching opportunity, and nonprofit work, mechanical engineering Ph.D. student Jonathan Shulgach looks to reimagine the experience of receiving medical care by bringing patients closer to the process.

Advanced Manufacturing

Industrial robots building with Lego® bricks at Mill 19

New testbed at Mill 19, that will test and advance robotic assembly and disassembly using Lego® bricks, will also be used to study other robotic functions in manufacturing.

A group of Engineering and Public Policy graduate students took home the award for Best Presentation on behalf of the NASA’s Gateways to Blue Skies: Clean Aviation Energy Competition.

CMU team wins Best Presentation Award at NASA competition

Mindfulness may help engineering students’ experiences with stress

Chris McComb and collaborators at Penn State, found that mindfulness based interventions (MBI) had an impact on students in an introductory engineering design course.

Relationships are key to the research and the researchers

Zeynep Ozkaya’s work in Jana Kainerstorfer’s biophotonicslab has helped her to better understand the signal processing principles she is learning in her electrical engineering courses.

So tricky, a robot can do it

Carnegie Mellon Researchers have taken inspiration from geckos to create a material that adheres to wet and dry surfaces, even on an incline.

Small particles research reveals benefits of interaction

Undergraduate research opportunity gave Kelby Kramer the chance to explore topics and gain skills outside his chosen field.

Virtual reality partners become real world neighbors

In July, the YKK AP Technologies Lab opened at Mill 19. Their focus on the development of a virtual factory is well aligned with the digital twin work underway at the Manufacturing Futures Institute.

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School of computer science.

Master of Computational Data Science

The Master of Computational Data Science (MCDS) program focuses on engineering and deploying large-scale information systems, and includes concentrations in Systems, Analytics, and Human-Centered Data Science.

Requirements

The MCDS program offers three majors: Systems, Analytics, and Human-Centered Data Science. All three require the same total number of course credits, split among required core courses, electives, data science seminar and capstone courses specifically defined for each major. The degree can also be earned in two different ways, depending on the length of time you spend working on it. Regardless of the timing option, all MCDS students must complete a minimum of 144 units to graduate.

Here are the options:

• Standard Timing — a 16-month degree consisting of study for fall and spring semesters, a summer internship, and fall semester of study. Each semester comprises a minimum of 48 units. This timing is typical for most students. Students graduate in December.
• Extended Timing — a 20-month degree consisting of study for fall and spring semesters, a summer internship, and a second year of fall and spring study. Each semester comprises a minimum of 36 units. Students graduate in May.

Core Curriculum

All MCDS students must complete 144 units of graduate study which satisfy the following curriculum:

• Five (5) MCDS Core Courses (63 units)
• Three courses (3) from one area of concentration curriculum (36 units)
• Three (3) MCDS Capstone courses (11-635, 11-634 and 11-632) (36 units)
• One (1) Electives: any graduate level course 600 and above in the School of Computer Science (12 units)

Area of Concentration

• During the first two semesters in the program, all students take a set of five (5) required core courses: 11-637 Fundamentals of Computational Data Science, 15-619 Cloud Computing, 10-601 Machine Learning, 05-839 Interactive Data Science, and 11-631 Data Science Seminar.
• By the end of the first semester, all students must select at least one area of concentration — Systems, Analytics, or Human-Centered Data Science — which governs the courses taken after the first semester.
• To maximize your chances of success in the program, you should consider which concentration area(s) you are best prepared for, based on your educational background, work experience, and  areas of interest as described in your Statement of Purpose.
• You are strongly encouraged to review the detailed curriculum requirements for each concentration area, in order to determine the best fit given your preparation and background.

For a complete overview of the MCDS requirements read the  MCDS Handbook .

To earn an MCDS degree, students must pass courses in the core curriculum, the MCDS seminar, a concentration area, and electives. Students must also complete a capstone project in which they work on a research project at CMU or on an industry-sponsored project.

In total, students must complete 144 eligible units of study, including eight 12-unit courses, two 12-unit seminar courses, and one 24-unit capstone course. Students must choose at minimum five core courses. The remainder of the 12-unit courses with course numbers 600 or greater can be electives chosen from the SCS course catalog. Any additional non-prerequisite units taken beyond the 144 units are also considered electives.

Students who plan to select the Systems concentration may wish to enroll in 15-513 “Introduction to Computing Systems” during the summer session preceding their enrollment in the program; this course is a prerequisite for many advanced Systems courses, so it should be completed during Summer if you wish to enroll in advanced Systems courses in the Fall.

Click here   to see the MCDS Course Map.

Some example courses of study are included below.

Example 1: Analytics Major, 16 Months

Example 2: Systems Major, 16 Months

Example 3: Human-Centered Data Science Major, 16 Months

Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science has a centralized  online application process . Applications and all supporting documentation for fall admission to any of the LTI's graduate programs must be received by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.  The application period for Fall 2024 is now closed. Information about the Fall 2025 admissions cycle will be available in summer 2024.

Application Deadlines

Fee Waivers

Fee waivers may be available in cases of financial hardship, or for participants in select "pipeline" programs. For more information, please refer to the  School of Computer Science Fee Waiver page .

The School of Computer Science requires the following for all applications:

• A GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• GRE scores: These must be less than five years old. Our Institution Code is 2074; Department Code is 0402. (This requirement is waived for CMU undergrads.)
• The GRE At Home test is accepted but we prefer you take the GRE at a test center if possible.
• Unofficial transcripts from each university you have attended, regardless of whether you received your degree there.
• Current resume.
• Statement of Purpose.
• Three letters of recommendation
• A short (1-3 minutes) video of yourself. Tell us about you and why you are interested in the MCDS program. This is not a required part of the application process, but it is STRONGLY suggested.  
• Proof of English Language Proficiency

Proof of English Language Proficiency: If you will be studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa, and English is not a native language for you (native language…meaning spoken at home and from birth), we are required to formally evaluate your English proficiency. We require applicants who will be studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa, and for whom English is not a native language, to demonstrate English proficiency via one of these standardized tests: TOEFL (preferred), IELTS, or Duolingo. We discourage the use of the "TOEFL ITP Plus for China," since speaking is not scored.

We do not issue waivers for non-native speakers of English. In particular, we do not issue waivers based on previous study at a U.S. high school, college, or university. We also do not issue waivers based on previous study at an English-language high school, college, or university outside of the United States. No amount of educational experience in English, regardless of which country it occurred in, will result in a test waiver.

Applicants applying to MCDS are required to submit scores from an English proficiency exam taken within the last two years. Scores taken before Sept. 1, 2021, will not be accepted regardless of whether you have previously studied in the U.S. For more information about their English proficiency score policies, visit the  MCDS  admission website.  Successful applicants will have a minimum TOEFL score of 100, IELTS score of 7.5, or DuoLingo score of 120. Our Institution Code is 4256; the Department Code is 78. Additional details about English proficiency requirements are provided on the  FAQ  page. 

Applications which do not meet  all  of these requirements by the application deadline (see above) will not be reviewed.

For more details on these requirements, please see the  SCS Master's Admissions page.

In addition to the SCS guidelines, the LTI requires:

• Any outside funding you are receiving must be accompanied by an official award letter.

No incomplete applications will be eligible for consideration.

For specific application/admissions questions, please contact  Jennifer Lucas  or Caitlin Korpus .

Program Contact

For more information about the MCDS program, contact Jennifer Lucas or Caitlin Korpus

Jennifer Lucas

Caitlin korpus, online graduate certificate program, program handbook.

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Post-Graduation Outcomes

The CPDC surveys all students graduating from Carnegie Mellon University (excluding Heinz College and Tepper graduate students) in order to obtain information on their career plans after graduation, also known as First Destination Career Outcomes. Common points of data include hiring companies, graduate and professional schools, starting salaries, and geographic locations. Explore the dashboard below to learn about the first career destinations of our recent alumni! Note: Some recent graduates chose not to provide employer, job title, salary, and/or graduate school information in their response. To protect the identity of individuals, certain r results are hidden when the response count is too low. It is recommended to utilize the "Department" filter first. Learn more about the key terms or language used below as well as information regarding how these statistics are obtained from graduates.

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29 Best Colleges for Data Science – 2024

April 12, 2024

There has never been a better time in all of human history to be a “quant nerd.” The past decade has seen a near-universal celebration of data and analytics in business, finance, sports, entertainment, technology, and just about any other field you could name. Those who rule Wall Street, retail, athletics, politics, etc. generally rely on data analysis, modeling, and “big data” systems to guide their actions. To study data science and analytics in college, you’ll need a solid foundation of computer science and advanced math skills, but you won’t necessarily need Ivy-level credentials. Some of our Best Colleges for Data Science will open their doors to good-but-not-perfect candidates.

Finally, note that although some of the colleges featured below do not offer a formal major in data science, their undergraduate offerings in this subject area are so strong that they warrant inclusion on our list.

Methodology 

Click here to read our methodology for the Best Colleges for Data Science.

Best Colleges for Data Science

Here’s a quick preview of the first ten data science institutions that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) University of California-Berkeley

2) Carnegie Mellon University

3) Stanford University

4) University of Michigan

5) University of Chicago

6) University of California, San Diego

7) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

8) Massachusetts Institute of Technology

9) California Institute of Technology

10) Northwestern University

All of the schools profiled below have a history of sending graduates to the most desirable applied data science-related jobs and grad schools in the country. For each of the best colleges for data science, College Transitions will provide you with the:

• Cost of Attendance
• Acceptance Rate
• Median  SAT
• Median  ACT
• Retention Rate
• Graduation Rate

We will also include a longer write-up of each college’s:

• Academic Highlights – Includes facts like student-to-faculty ratio, average class size, number of majors offered, and most popular majors.
• Professional Outcomes – Includes info on the rate of positive outcomes, companies employing alumni, and graduate school acceptances.

University of California, Berkeley

• Berkeley, CA

Academic Highlights: More than 150 undergraduate majors and minors are available across six schools: the College of Letters and Science, the College of Chemistry, the College of Engineering, the College of Environmental Design, the College of Natural Resources, and the Haas School of Business. Many departments have top international reputations including computer science, engineering, chemistry, English, psychology, and economics. 22% of sections contain nine or fewer students, and over 55% of students assist faculty with a research project or complete a research methods course.

Professional Outcomes: Upon graduating, 49% of Cal’s Class of 2022 had already secured employment, and 20% were headed to graduate school. Business is the most popular sector, attracting 62% of employed grads; next up are industrial (17%), education (8%), and nonprofit work (7%). The median starting salary was $86,459 across all majors. Thousands of alumni can be found in the offices of Google, Apple, and Meta, and 500+ Golden Bears are currently employed by Oracle, Amazon, and Microsoft. The school is the number one all-time producer of Peace Corps volunteers.

• Enrollment: 32,831 (undergraduate); 12,914 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $48,574 (in-state); $82,774 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: Test Blind
• Median ACT: Test Blind
• Acceptance Rate: 11%
• Retention Rate: 96%
• Graduation Rate: 94%

Carnegie Mellon University

• Pittsburgh, PA

Academic Highlights: There are a combined 80+ undergraduate majors and 90 minors available across the six schools. Impressively, particularly for a school with more graduate students than undergrads, CMU boasts a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes, with 36% containing single digits. In a given school year, 800+ undergraduates conduct research through the University Research Office. The most commonly conferred degrees are in engineering (21%), computer science (16%), mathematics (12%), business (10%), and visual and performing arts (9%).

Professional Outcomes: By the end of the calendar year in which they received their diplomas, 66% of 2022 grads were employed, and 28% were continuing to graduate school. The companies that have routinely scooped up CMU grads include Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Accenture, McKinsey, and Deloitte. With an average starting salary of $105,194, CMU grads outpace the average starting salary for a college grad nationally. Of those pursuing graduate education, around 20% typically enroll immediately in PhD programs.

• Enrollment: 7,509
• Cost of Attendance: $84,412
• Median SAT: 1540
• Median ACT: 35
• Retention Rate: 97%
• Graduation Rate: 92%

Stanford University

• Palo Alto, CA

Academic Highlights: Stanford has three undergraduate schools: the School of Humanities & Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences. 69% of classes have fewer than twenty students, and 34% have a single-digit enrollment. Programs in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, international relations, and economics are arguably the best anywhere. In terms of sheer volume, the greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (17%), computer science (16%), engineering (15%), and interdisciplinary studies (13%).

Professional Outcomes: Stanford grads entering the working world flock to three major industries in equal distribution: business/finance/consulting/retail (19%); computer, IT (19%); and public policy and service, international affairs (19%). Among the companies employing the largest number of recent grads are Accenture, Apple, Bain, Cisco, Meta, Goldman Sachs, Google, McKinsey, Microsoft, and SpaceX. Other companies that employ hundreds of Cardinal alums include LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Airbnb. Starting salaries for Stanford grads are among the highest in the country.

• Enrollment: 8,049 (undergraduate); 10,236 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $87,833
• Acceptance Rate: 4%
• Retention Rate: 98%
• Graduation Rate: 95%

University of Michigan

• Ann Arbor, MI

Academic Highlights: There are 280+ undergraduate degree programs across fourteen schools and colleges, and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) enrolls the majority of students. The Ross School of Business offers highly rated programs in entrepreneurship, management, accounting, and finance. The College of Engineering is also one of the best in the country. By degrees conferred, engineering (15%), computer science (14%), and the social sciences (11%) are most popular. A solid 56% of classes have fewer than 20 students.

Professional Outcomes: Within three months of graduating, 89% of LSA grads are employed full-time or in graduate school, with healthcare, education, law, banking, research, nonprofit work, and consulting being the most popular sectors. Within three months, 99% of Ross grads are employed with a median salary of $90k. Top employers include Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, EY, Morgan Stanley, PwC, Deloitte, and Amazon.  Within six months, 96% of engineering grads are employed (average salary of $84k) or in grad school. General Motors, Ford, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta employ the greatest number of alumni.

• Enrollment: 32,695 (undergraduate); 18,530 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $35,450 (in-state); $76,294 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1470
• Median ACT: 33
• Acceptance Rate: 18%
• Graduation Rate: 93%

University of Chicago

• Chicago, IL

Academic Highlights: There are 53 majors at UChicago, but close to half of all degrees conferred are in four majors: economics, biology, mathematics, and political science, all of which have particularly sterling reputations. Economics alone is the selection of roughly one-fifth of the undergraduate population. Over 75% of undergrad sections have an enrollment of nineteen or fewer students, and undergraduate research opportunities are ubiquitous as 80% of students end up working in a research capacity alongside a faculty member.

Professional Outcomes: On commencement day, 99% of the Class of 2023 were employed or continuing their education. Business and financial services (30%) and STEM (12%) were the two sectors that scooped up the most graduates, but public policy and consulting were also well-represented. The most popular employers of recent grads include Google, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Company, Bank of America, Citi, and Accenture. For those heading to grad school, the top seven destinations are Yale, Columbia, Penn, MIT, Stanford, UCLA, and Johns Hopkins.

• Enrollment: 7,653 (undergraduate); 10,870 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $89,040
• Acceptance Rate: 5%
• Retention Rate: 99%
• Graduation Rate: 96%

University of California, San Diego

• San Diego, CA

Academic Highlights: There are 140+ undergraduate majors offered at UCSD, and all students join one of eight undergraduate colleges meant to forge flourishing communities within the larger university. Biology has the highest representation of all majors (19%) followed by engineering (12%), the social sciences (11%), and computer science (9%). UCSD’s computer science and engineering programs have stellar reputations in the corporate and tech communities, and programs in biology, economics, and political science are among the best anywhere.

Professional Outcomes: Employers of recent graduates included the Walt Disney Company, Tesla, NBC Universal, PwC, Northrop Grumman, and EY. More than 1,000 current Google employees are UC San Diego alumni, and Qualcomm, Amazon, and Apple all employ 500+ each. The median early career salary is $65,000 across all majors, placing the university in the top 10 public universities in the country. UCSD also fares well in measures of its return-on-investment potential.

• Enrollment: 33,096 (undergraduate); 8,386 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $31,830 (in-state); $64,404 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance Rate: 25%
• Retention Rate: 93%
• Graduation Rate: 88%

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Champaign-Urbana, IL

Academic Highlights: Eight of UIUC’s fifteen schools cater to undergraduate students. There are 150 academic programs offered, including those at the acclaimed Grainger College of Engineering and Gies College of Business. In sheer volume of degrees conferred, engineering and business/marketing are tied at 19%, followed by the social sciences (9%) and psychology (6%). 39% of sections are capped at 19 students. 29% of undergraduates work with a faculty member on a research project; another 22% have some type of fieldwork, practicum, or clinical experience.

Professional Outcomes: 95% of the members of the Class of 2022 landed at their next destination within six months of graduation, with 38% matriculating directly into an advanced degree program. 57% were employed full-time; the most popular sectors were finance, consulting, healthcare, electronics, and education. Corporations landing the most recent Illini grads were KPMG, Deloitte, Epic Systems, EY, PwC, and Amazon. The average salary across all Class of 2022 majors was an extremely solid $75,000.

• Enrollment: 35,120 (undergraduate); 21,796 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $35,926-$41,190 (in-state); $55,386-$63,290 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1440
• Median ACT: 32
• Acceptance Rate: 79%
• Graduation Rate: 85%

• Cambridge, MA

Academic Highlights: Undergraduates pursue one of 57 majors and 59 minors at this world-class research institution that continues to be one of the world’s most magnetic destinations for math and science geniuses.  The student-to-faculty ratio is an astonishing 3-to-1, and over two-fifths of all class sections have single-digit enrollments, and 70% of courses contain fewer than twenty students. The highest numbers of degrees conferred in 2022 were in the following majors: engineering (31%), computer science and engineering (28%), mathematics (10%), and the physical sciences (7%).

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2023 saw 29% of its members enter the world of employment and 43% continue on their educational paths. The top employers included Accenture, Amazon, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Google, General Motors, the US Navy, Apple, Bain & Company, and McKinsey. The mean starting salary for an MIT bachelor’s degree holder was $95,000. The most frequently attended graduate schools are a who’s who of elite institutions including MIT itself, Stanford, Caltech, Harvard, and the University of Oxford.

• Enrollment: 4,657
• Cost of Attendance: $82,730
• Median SAT: 1550

California Institute of Technology

• Pasadena, CA

Academic Highlights: Across all divisions, there are 28 distinct majors. Possessing an absurdly favorable 3:1 student-to-faculty ratio, plenty of individualized attention is up for grabs. Class sizes are not quite as tiny as the student-to-faculty ratio might suggest, but 70% of courses enroll fewer than twenty students, and 28% enroll fewer than ten. Computer science is the most popular major, accounting for 38% of all degrees conferred. Engineering (30%), the physical sciences (20%), and mathematics (6%) also have strong representation.

Professional Outcomes: Caltech is a rare school that sees six-figure average starting salaries for its graduates; in 2022, the median figure was $120,000. Forty-three percent of recent grads went directly into the workforce and found homes at tech giants such as Google, Intel, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta. A healthy 46% of those receiving their diplomas in 2022 continued directly on the higher education path, immediately entering graduate school. Ninety-seven percent of these students were admitted to one of their top-choice schools.

• Enrollment: 982
• Cost of Attendance: $86,886
• Acceptance Rate: 3%

Northwestern University

• Evanston, IL

Academic Highlights : Northwestern is home to six undergraduate schools, including Medill, which is widely regarded as one of the country’s best journalism schools. The McCormick School of Engineering also achieves top rankings, along with programs in economics, social policy, and theatre. The social sciences account for the greatest number of degrees conferred (19%), followed by communications/journalism (13%), and engineering (11%). 45% of classes have nine or fewer students enrolled; 78% have fewer than twenty enrollees. 57% of recent grads had the chance to conduct undergraduate research.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 69% of the Class of 2022 had found employment and 27% were in graduate school. The four most popular professional fields were consulting (18%), engineering (18%), business/finance (16%), and communications/marketing/media (13%). Employers included the BBC, NBC News, The Washington Post , NPR, Boeing, Google, IBM, Deloitte, PepsiCo, Northrop Grumman, and Goldman Sachs. Across all majors, the average starting salary was $73k. Of those headed straight to graduate school, engineering, medicine, and business were the three most popular areas of concentration.

• Enrollment: 8,659 (undergraduate); 14,073 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $91,290
• Median SAT: 1530
• Median ACT: 34
• Acceptance Rate: 7%
• Graduation Rate: 97%

University of Maryland, College Park

• College Park, MD

Academic Highlights: Undergraduates can select from 100+ majors across twelve colleges. 18% of degrees are conferred in computer science, followed by the social sciences (13%), with  criminology, government and politics, and economics being the most popular majors.  Engineering (13%), business (11%), and biology (8%) are next in line. The School of Business, the School of Engineering, and the College of Journalism are all top-ranked, as are programs in computer science and criminology. 46% of sections enroll fewer than twenty students.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 96% of Class of 2022 grads had positive outcomes. 67% found employment; the companies/organizations that hired the greatest number of grads included Northrop Grumman, Deloitte, Amazon, and EY. Meta, Apple, and Google employ more than 200 alumni each.  The mid-50% salary range for 2022 grads was $55k-$83k. 21% of the Class of 2022 headed directly to graduate and professional school; 11% entered doctoral programs, 5% entered medical school, and 5% entered law school.

• Enrollment: 30,353 (undergraduate); 10,439 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $31,540 (in-state); $60,918 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance Rate: 84%
• Retention Rate: 95%
• Graduation Rate: 89%

Purdue University — West Lafayette

• West Lafayette, IN

Academic Highlights: Purdue offers over 200 majors at ten discipline-specific colleges, and 38% of course sections have an enrollment of 19 or fewer. Engineering and engineering technologies majors earn 34% of the degrees conferred by the university; the College of Engineering cracks the top ten on almost every list of best engineering schools. The Krannert School of Management is also well-regarded by employers; 11% of degrees conferred are in business. Other popular majors include computer science (10%) and agriculture (5%)—both are incredibly strong.

Professional Outcomes: Shortly after receiving their diplomas, 70% of 2022 grads headed to the world of employment while 24% headed to graduate/professional school. The top industries entered by grads in recent years are (1) health care, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices; (2) finance, insurance, and consulting; (3) manufacturing and machinery; (4) airline, aviation, and aerospace. Companies employing the greatest number of recent alumni were Amazon, Deloitte, PepsiCo, Labcorp, Lockheed Martin, and Microsoft. The average starting salary was $68k across all degree programs.

• Enrollment: 37,949 (undergraduate); 12,935 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $22,812 (in-state); $41,614 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1330
• Median ACT: 31
• Acceptance Rate: 53%
• Retention Rate: 91%
• Graduation Rate: 84%

The University of Texas at Austin

Academic Highlights: UT Austin offers over 150 majors, including those at the Cockrell School of Engineering, one of the most heralded undergraduate engineering schools around, and The McCombs School of Business, which dominates in the specialty areas of accounting and marketing. The computer science department is also top-ranked. In terms of degrees conferred, engineering is tied with biology (12%) followed by communication (11%), business (11%), and the social sciences (8%). The elite Plan II Honors Program is one of the best in the country.

Professional Outcomes: Within the College of Liberal Arts, six months after graduating, 68% of Longhorns are employed and 24% have entered graduate school. The for-profit sector attracts 65% of those employed while 19% enter public sector employment and 16% pursue jobs at a nonprofit. Major corporations that employ more than 500 UT Austin grads include Google, Meta, Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, and Apple. Engineering majors took home a median income of $79k and business majors took home $70k.

• Enrollment: 41,309 (undergraduate); 11,075 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $30,752-$34,174 (in-state); $61,180-$69,310 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1430
• Acceptance Rate: 31%

University of Wisconsin – Madison

• Madison, WI

Academic Highlights: There are 230+ undergraduate majors offered across eight schools and colleges, including the top-ranked School of Business and College of Engineering as well as the College of Letters and Science, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and the Schools of Nursing, Education, Pharmacy, and Human Ecology. Undergrads can expect a mix of large and small classes, with 44% of sections enrolling fewer than 20 students. Business (18%), biology (12%), the social sciences (11%), and engineering (10%) are most popular.

Professional Outcomes: In a recent year, 46% of job-seeking grads graduated with an offer.  Top employers included UW-Madison, Epic, Kohl’s, Oracle, Deloitte, and UW Health. Across all graduating years, companies employing 250+ alumni include Google, Target, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, PwC, Accenture, and Meta. 28% of recent grads enrolled directly in graduate/professional school; the majority stayed at UW–Madison while others headed to Columbia, Northwestern, and Carnegie Mellon. The university is the top producer of Peace Corps volunteers.

• Enrollment: 37,230 (undergraduate); 12,656 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $28,916 (in-state); $58,912 (out-of-state)
• Median ACT: 30
• Acceptance Rate: 49%
• Retention Rate: 94%

Duke University

Academic Highlights: The academic offerings at Duke include 53 majors, 52 minors, and 23 interdisciplinary certificates. Class sizes are on the small side—71% are nineteen or fewer, and almost one-quarter are less than ten. A stellar 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio helps keep classes so reasonable even while catering to five figures worth of graduate students. Computer Science is the most popular area of concentration (11%), followed by economics (10%), public policy (9%), biology (8%), and computer engineering (7%).

Professional Outcomes: At graduation, approximately 70% of Duke diploma-earners enter the world of work, 20% continue into graduate schools, and 2% start their own businesses. The industries that attract the largest percentage of Blue Devils are tech (21%), finance (15%), business (15%), healthcare (9%), and science/research (6%). Of the 20% headed into graduate school, a hefty 22% are attending medical school, 18% are in PhD programs, and 12% are entering law school. The med school acceptance rate is 85%, more than twice the national average.

• Enrollment: 6,640
• Cost of Attendance: $85,238
• SAT Range: 1490-1570
• ACT Range: 34-35
• Acceptance Rate: 6%

Washington University in St. Louis

• St. Louis, MO

Academic Highlights : WashU admits students into five schools, many of which offer nationally recognized programs: Arts & Sciences, the Olin School of Business, the School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, and the Art of Architecture programs housed within the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. The most commonly conferred degrees are in engineering (13%), social sciences (13%), business (13%), biology (11%), and psychology (10%). 66% of classes have fewer than 20 students, and over one-quarter have single-digit enrollments. 65% double major or pursue a minor.

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2022 sent 52% of grads into the workforce and 28% into graduate and professional schools. Companies employing the highest number of WashU grads feature sought-after employers such as Amazon, Bain, Boeing, Deloitte, Google, IBM, Goldman Sachs, and Microsoft. Of the employed members of the Class of 2022 who reported their starting salaries, 79% made more than $60k. The universities welcoming the largest number of Bears included the prestigious institutions of Caltech, Columbia, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Stanford.

• Enrollment: 8,132 (undergraduate); 8,880 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $83,760

University of Virginia

• Charlottesville, VA

Academic Highlights: Undergrads can study within one of seven colleges/schools, which all offer many small classes; 15% boast single-digit enrollment and 48% contain 19 or fewer students. The McIntire School of Commerce and the School of Engineering and Applied Science have glowing reputations. Other notable strengths include computer science, economics, and political philosophy, policy, and law. The most popular degree areas are liberal arts/general studies (22%), the social sciences (14%), engineering (11%), business/marketing (8%), and biology (7%).

Professional Outcomes:  Upon receiving their degree, 95% of the Class of 2022 immediately joined the workforce–with an average starting salary of $90k–or headed directly to graduate school. The most popular industries were internet & software, higher education, and management consulting. Capital One (85), Deloitte (46), Amazon (38), and Bain & Co. (26) scooped up the greatest number of 2022 grads. UVA itself was the most popular grad school destination followed by Columbia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Johns Hopkins.

• Enrollment: 17,496 (undergraduate); 8,653 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $39,494-49,874 (in-state); $78,214-90,378 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance Rate: 19%

New York University

• New York, NY

Academic Highlights: NYU is divided into a number of smaller (but still quite large) colleges organized by discipline; in sum, there are 230 areas of undergraduate study across nine schools and colleges. For its size, a commendable 58% of classes have an enrollment under 20 students. While all schools within NYU have solid reputations, Stern holds the distinction as one of the top undergraduate business programs in the country. For those entering film, dance, drama, or other performing arts, Tisch is as prestigious a place as you can find to study.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of exiting, 94% of Class of 2022 grads had landed at their next destination, with 78% employed and 21% in graduate school. The top industries for employment were healthcare (11%), internet and software (9%), finance (8%), and entertainment (8%). Large numbers of alumni can be found at Google, Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, IBM, JP Morgan Chase, Citi, and Amazon. The mean starting salary is $75,336. In 2022, business, arts and sciences, and law school were the most popular grad school destinations.

• Enrollment: 29,401 (undergraduate); 29,711 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $90,222-$96,172
• Median SAT: 1520
• Acceptance Rate: 12%
• Graduation Rate: 87%

University of California, Los Angeles

• Los Angeles, CA

Academic Highlights: UCLA offers 125 majors in 100+ academic departments, and more than 60 majors require a capstone experience that results in the creation of a tangible product under the mentorship of faculty members. The most commonly conferred degrees are in the social sciences (25%), biology (16%), psychology (11%), mathematics (8%), and engineering (7%). Departmental rankings are high across the board, especially in computer science, engineering, film, fine and performing arts, mathematics, and political science.

Professional Outcomes: UCLA grads flow most heavily into the research, finance, computer science, and engineering sectors. High numbers of recent grads can be found at Disney, Google, EY, Teach for America, Amazon, and Oracle. Hundreds also can be found at Bloomberg, Deloitte, Mattel, Oracle, and SpaceX. The average starting salary exceeds $55,000. 16% of recent grads enrolled directly in a graduate/professional school, with other CA-based institutions like Stanford, Pepperdine, USC, Berkeley, and Loyola Marymount being the most popular.

• Enrollment: 33,040 (undergraduate); 15,010 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $38,517 (in-state); $71,091 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance Rate: 9%

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Chapel Hill, NC

Academic Highlights: Undergraduates can choose from 74 bachelor’s degree programs in a number of schools and colleges, the largest of which is the College of Arts & Sciences. 44% of classes have a student enrollment under 20. The social sciences (15%), biology (12%), media/journalism (9%), computer science (8%), and business (6%) are the areas in which the most degrees are conferred. The Kenan-Flager Business School is internationally renowned and requires separate admission. Other strong programs include those in chemistry, journalism, psychology, and political science.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after leaving Chapel Hill, 97% of 2022 grads had entered employment, military service, or graduate school. Among the for-profit companies that hire the most graduates are Wells Fargo, IBM, Cisco, Deloitte, EY, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, McKinsey & Company, and Goldman Sachs. In the nonprofit sector, a large number of alumni are employed by AmeriCorps, NIH, Teach for America, and the Peace Corps. The average starting salary is $70,619. 18% of 2022 grads enrolled directly in graduate/professional school.

• Enrollment: 20,210 (undergraduate); 11,739 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $27,036 (in-state); $60,040 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1450
• Acceptance Rate: 17%
• Graduation Rate: 91%

University of Pennsylvania

• Philadelphia, PA

Academic Highlights : 90 distinct degrees are available across four schools: the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Applied Science and Engineering, the College of Nursing, and the world-renowned Wharton School. The greatest number of students pursue degrees in business (19%), social sciences (14%), biology (11%), health sciences (9%), engineering (9%), and computer science (9%). The university boasts an exceptional 26% of courses with an enrollment under ten and 59% with an enrollment under twenty as well as multiple ways for undergrads to conduct research.

Professional Outcomes: 75% of Class of 2022 grads were employed within six months of graduating, and 18% were in graduate school. Finance attracted the highest percentage of grads (30%) followed by consulting (20%), technology (15%), and healthcare (10%). Employers hiring the greatest number of 2022 grads included JPMorgan, Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey, Bain & Company, Meta, and Goldman Sachs. The median starting salary for all graduates is $80,000. For those continuing their educational journeys, the most popular move is to remain at Penn, followed by Columbia and Harvard.

• Enrollment: 9,760 (undergraduate); 13,614 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $89,028

Cornell University

Academic Highlights: A diverse array of academic programs includes 80 majors and 120 minors spread across the university’s seven schools/colleges. Classes are a bit larger at Cornell than at many other elite institutions. Still, 55% of sections have fewer than 20 students. Most degrees conferred in 2022 were in computer science (17%), engineering (13%), business (13%), and biology (13%). The SC Johnson College of Business houses two undergraduate schools, both of which have phenomenal reputations.

Professional Outcomes: Breaking down the graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences, the largest school at Cornell, 68% entered the workforce, 28% entered graduate school, 1% pursued other endeavors such as travel or volunteer work, and the remaining 3% were still seeking employment six months after receiving their diplomas. The top sectors attracting campus-wide graduateswere financial services (18%), technology (17%), consulting (15%), and education (10%). Of the students from A&S going on to graduate school, 15% were pursuing JDs, 5% MDs, and 22% PhDs.

• Enrollment: 15,735
• Cost of Attendance: $88,150

University of California, Irvine

Academic Highlights: UCI offers eighty undergrad programs as well as many opportunities for personal connection; 56% of all sections enroll 19 or fewer students and over 60% of students conduct a research project. The most commonly conferred degrees are the social sciences (16%), business (12%), psychology (11%), and biology (9%). The Samueli School of Engineering has a solid reputation as does the Bren School, the only independent computer science school in the UC system. Programs in public health and biological sciences earn very high marks.

Professional Outcomes: Accounting, aerospace, internet and software, K-12 education, real estate, and retail are among the industries attracting the greatest number of Anteaters. Companies employing large numbers of recent grads include Boeing, the Walt Disney Company, Google, EY, and Microsoft. Hundreds of alumni are also found at Kaiser Permanente, Meta, Apple, Edwards Lifesciences, and Deloitte. The median salary is $69,000, with CS grads earning close to $120k right off the bat. UCI has a very strong reputation for premed.

• Enrollment: 28,661 (undergraduate); 7,275 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $40,202 (in-state); $72,776 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance Rate: 26%

Johns Hopkins University

• Baltimore, MD

Academic Highlights: With 53 majors as well as 51 minors, JHU excels in everything from its bread-and-butter medical-related majors to international relations and dance. Boasting an enviable 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and with 78% of course sections possessing an enrollment under 20, face time with professors is a reality. Many departments carry a high level of clout, including biomedical engineering, chemistry, English, and international studies. Biology, neuroscience, and computer science, which happen to be the three most popular majors, can also be found at the top of the national rankings.

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2022 saw 94% of graduates successfully land at their next destination within six months of exiting the university; 66% of graduates entered the world of employment and a robust 19% went directly to graduate/professional school. The median starting salary across all majors was $80,000 for the Class of 2022. JHU itself is the most popular choice for graduate school. The next most frequently attended institutions included Columbia, Harvard, Yale, and MIT.

• Enrollment: 6,044
• Cost of Attendance: $86,065

Tufts University

• Medford, MA

Academic Highlights: Three schools serve Tufts’ undergraduate population: the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. The three schools combined offer more than 90 majors and minors; approximately one-third of all students double major, and half declare a minor. 15% of all courses see fewer than ten students enrolled, and 60% have sub-twenty enrollments. The most popular majors include international relations, economics, computer science, political science, and biology—all of which receive very high marks.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after earning their diplomas, 97% of 2022 graduates were employed or attending graduate school. The most commonly entered fields were finance, consulting, real estate (23%); engineering and technology (22%); health, life sciences, environmental (21%); and education, advocacy, social services (11%). Prolific employers of Tufts alums include Booz Allen Hamilton, JPMorgan, MITRE, Google, Deloitte, Amazon, Raytheon, Morgan Stanley, and BlackRock. Of the 21% of 2022 grads who went directly to graduate school, 85% were accepted into their first-choice institution.

• Enrollment: 6,815 (undergraduate); 6,616 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $88,300
• Median SAT: 1500
• Acceptance Rate: 10%

Rutgers University — New Brunswick

• New Brunswick, NJ

Academic Highlights: Rutgers is divided into 17 schools and colleges, collectively offering 100+ undergraduate majors. 41% of class sections have an enrollment of nineteen or fewer students. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in business (20%), computer science (12%), engineering (10%), health professions (10%), biology (9%), and social sciences (7%). Rutgers Business School sends many majors to top Wall Street investment banks, and programs in computer science, public health, and criminal justice have a terrific national reputation.

Professional Outcomes: Upon graduation, 82% of Class of 2022 grads had secured a first job or were heading to an advanced degree program. 67% headed directly to the world of employment, where the companies hiring the largest number of grads included Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oréal, and JP Morgan Chase. Investment banks like Goldman Sachs and Citi also employ hundreds of alumni, as do companies like Verizon, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Novartis, Pfizer, and Google. The median starting salary across all majors was $70,000.

• Enrollment: 36,344 (undergraduate); 14,293 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $37,849 (in-state); $57,138 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1370
• Acceptance Rate: 66%
• Retention Rate: 92%

Pennsylvania State University — University Park

• State College, PA

Academic Highlights: Penn State offers 275 majors and a number of top-ranked programs in a host of disciplines. The College of Engineering is rated exceptionally well on a national scale and is also the most popular field of study, accounting for 15% of the degrees conferred. The Smeal College of Business is equally well-regarded, earning high rankings in everything from supply chain management to accounting to marketing. It attracts 15% of total degree-seekers. 61% of classes have an enrollment below thirty students.

Professional Outcomes: By graduation, 70% of Nittany Lions have found their next employment or graduate school home. 98% of College of Business grads are successful within three months of exiting, flocking in large numbers to stellar finance, accounting, consulting, and technology firms. Hundreds of alumni work at Citi, Salesforce, and Meta, and more than 500 currently work at each of IBM, Deloitte, PwC, Amazon, EY, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Google, and Oracle. 75% of 2022 grads employed full-time earned starting salaries greater than $50k.

• Enrollment: 41,745 (undergraduate); 7,020 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $32,656 (in-state); $52,610 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1300
• Median ACT: 29
• Acceptance Rate: 55%

University of Minnesota–Twin Cities

• Minneapolis, MN

Academic Highlights: There are 150 majors available across eight freshman-admitting undergraduate colleges. 65% of class sections enroll 29 or fewer students. The most commonly conferred degrees are in biology (13%), business & marketing (11%), engineering (10%), the social sciences (10%), computer science (9%), and psychology (8%). The College of Science and Engineering and the Carlson School of Management have strong national reputations, and the chemistry, economics, psychology, and political science departments are also well-regarded.

Professional Outcomes: The top seven companies snatching up the largest number of recent grads are all companies headquartered in the state of Minnesota: Medtronic, Target, 3M, United Health Group, US Bank, and Cargill. Google, Apple, and Meta all employ hundreds of Twin Cities alumni. The mean starting salary for recent grads was $50k. With 130 graduate programs in science, art, engineering, agriculture, medicine, and the humanities, the University of Minnesota retains many of its graduates as they pursue their next degrees.

• Enrollment: 39,248 (undergraduate); 15,707 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $33,032-$35,632 (in-state); $54,446-$57,046
• Acceptance Rate: 75%
• Retention Rate: 90%

University of Pittsburgh

Academic Highlights: Pitt admits freshmen to the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the Swanson School of Engineering, and the School of Nursing. Pitt’s engineering and business schools are top-rated and among the most commonly chosen fields of study. Premed offerings are also top-notch, with majors in the health professions (12%), biology (11%), psychology (9%), and computer science (9%) rounding out the list of most popular majors. Pitt has a strong 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio; 42% of sections have an enrollment of under twenty students.

Professional Outcomes: Within a few months of graduating, 94% of 2022 grads entered full-time employment or full-time graduate or professional school. Engineering, nursing, business, and information sciences majors had 73-86% employment rates while other majors tended to flock to graduate school in large numbers. Employers scooping up the highest number of grads in one recent year included the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (170), PNC (57), BNY Mellon (36), and Deloitte (19). Median starting salaries fluctuated between $37k-65k depending on major.

• Enrollment: 20,220 (undergraduate); 9,268 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $38,034-$43,254 (in-state); $56,400-$66,840 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1360
• Acceptance Rate: 50%

We hope you have found our list of the Best Colleges for Data Science to be useful and informative as you continue your college search process. We also invite you to check out some of our other resources and tools including:

• AP Score Calculators 
• SAT Score Calculator 
• ACT Score Calculator
• Best Summer Programs 
• College List Building Tool
• Best Colleges by Major

Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

• 2-Year Colleges
• Application Strategies
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Essay
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• Graduate School Admissions
• High School Success
• High Schools
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Private High School Spotlight
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

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