During the 2024–2025 admissions cycle, Carnegie Mellon University admitted only a small portion of its applicant pool, 11.7%, continuing its reputation as one of the most selective STEM-forward institutions in the country. But a single acceptance rate doesn’t tell you very much on its own. How is that number actually generated? And what pressures are tightening it year after year? CMU does publish some admissions data, but making sense of it requires a more careful, analytical pass. That’s exactly why we unpack this data annually – to help students approach competitive admissions with realism, clarity, and intention.
To do that, we start with a familiar resource: the Common Data Set, or CDS. Most U.S. colleges and universities complete this standardized report to ensure consistent disclosure to organizations like U.S. News & World Report, the College Board, and Peterson’s. The CDS contains dozens of sections, but for our purposes, we’re focusing on just one section of Carnegie Mellon’s 2024–2025 CDS: first-time, first-year admissions.
Trend Spotting: Five Years of Carnegie Mellon Admissions
Before drilling into the most recent cycle, it’s important to zoom out and examine CMU’s broader admissions arc. After a post-Covid spike in admissions across RD and ED, CMU has sort of… stabilized. They haven’t seen much variation in the past few years:
| Year | Total Applicants | Number of Admitted Students | Overall Acceptance Rate | ED Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33,941 | 3,959 | 11.70% | 13.80% |
| 2024 | 33,707 | 3,843 | 11.40% | 13.60% |
| 2023 | 34,261 | 3,873 | 11.30% | 12.50% |
| 2022 | 32,896 | 4,453 | 13.50% | 19.90% |
| 2021 | 26,189 | 4,524 | 17.30% | 25.00% |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers
Why This Matters: Because CMU has been consistent, you have a better picture of your odds for the coming cycles
When you apply to Carnegie Mellon, you’re competing against a pool of applicants who are not just strong on paper but often highly specialized. Especially for students targeting programs like computer science, engineering, or design, strategic positioning matters a ton.
C1: First-Time, First-Year Admission, Applications
Let’s take a closer look at how applications break down, including differences by gender:
| First-time, first-year applicants | Total | Admitted | Acceptance Rate | Enrolled | Yield rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 20,143 | 1,973 | 9.80% | 974 | 49.40% |
| Women | 12,735 | 1,870 | 14.70% | 780 | 41.70% |
| Another Gender | 1,063 | 116 | 11% | 54 | 46.60% |
| Total | 33,941 | 3,959 | 11.66% | 1,808 | 45.70% |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers
Key Takeaways for Acceptance Rates:
Yield is a lot lower than we imagined it would be – but a lot of students targeting CMU are probably targeting other highly competitive business and STEM-focused schools
Women have a significant advantage at CMU
CMU admitting a decent amount of “another gender” students is a) higher than most all other schools, b) in line with their overall philosophy, c) woke as hell and we love it
Carnegie Mellon is undeniably competitive, but what matters most is grounding your strategy in actual data rather than reputation alone. Without clear benchmarks and transparency around who gets admitted, it’s difficult to accurately assess where you stand or how to apply most effectively.
Early Decision
Applicants in the CMU ED pool have historically enjoyed higher admit rates than those applying Regular Decision, though that advantage has narrowed as more students pursue the early route. We’re no longer rocking the 25%+ ED admit rates of the late 2010s:
| Number of ED applications | 4,423 |
|---|---|
| Percent of applicants applying ED | 13% |
| Number of ED acceptances | 612 |
| ED acceptance rate | 13.84% |
| Percent of admitted students accepted through ED* | 15.50% |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers
Why This Matters: This ED rate is not that much higher than RD, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a smart strategic move. While ED is never a guarantee, students who are already strong fits may benefit from applying early.
Regular Decision
The CDS does not explicitly list Regular Decision acceptance rates, but we can estimate them by subtracting ED numbers from overall totals. These estimates aren’t exact, but they’re reliable enough to inform strategy:
| Number of RD applications | 29,518 |
|---|---|
| Number of RD acceptances | 3,347 |
| RD acceptance rate | 11.30% |
| Percent of admitted students accepted through RD | 84.50% |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers
Why This Matters: The vast majority of Carnegie Mellon’s class is admitted through Regular Decision, but RD is somewhat more competitive than ED. If CMU is your clear first choice and your application is already very strong, applying Early Decision is often the most strategic option.
Waitlist
While many universities keep waitlist data under wraps, Carnegie Mellon gives us the numbers. And they are kind of shocking:
| Students placed on waitlist | 16,484 |
|---|---|
| Students accepting a spot on the waitlist | 10,062 |
| Percent of students accepting a waitlist spot | 61% |
| Students admitted off the waitlist | 32 |
| Waitlist acceptance rate | 0.30% |
| Percent of total accepted students who were admitted from the waitlist* | 0.80% |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers
Why This Matters: CMU waitlists a lot of students, and accepts very few. We think this is pretty odd for a school with such a low yield rate.
When students get waitlisted, reactions tend to swing wildly. Some interpret it as a rejection in disguise; others treat it as a near-acceptance. That’s not quite it. A waitlist decision means CMU believes you could succeed there, but they just don’t currently have room. Movement happens unpredictably and in small numbers, but it does happen. We help students navigate CMU waitlists every year, and if you need help getting off the CMU waitlist, we can help.
C9-C2: First-Time, First-Year Profile, or Scores and Grades
Carnegie Mellon currently allows students to apply test-optional, but that should not be read as a signal that scores are unimportant. Across higher education, institutions are paying closer attention to student performance after enrollment, and many have observed that students admitted without test scores often struggle academically. That trend has already pushed some schools back toward testing requirements. For now, CMU remains test-optional, something that makes sense with their admissions philosophy, but strong scores still matter.
Even in a test-optional environment, the data is revealing. Looking at how many students submit scores (and how competitive those scores are) offers a window into CMU’s academic expectations.
Breakdown of enrolled students who submitted test scores:
| Percent | Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Submitting SAT Scores | 53% | 951 |
| Submitting ACT Scores | 22% | 405 |
| Total Submitting Scores* | 75% | 1,356 |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers
Why This Matters: A significant majority (3/4ths) of enrolled students submitted standardized test scores, a higher proportion than many elite non-Ivy peers. SAT submissions outnumber ACT submissions, but CMU does not care for one more than the other.
Now, let’s take a look at the score breakdowns for each section of the ACT and SAT:
| Test | 25th Percentile | 50th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Composite | 1510 | 1540 | 1560 |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading + Writing | 730 | 750 | 770 |
| SAT Math | 770 | 790 | 800 |
| ACT Composite | 34 | 35 | 35 |
| ACT Math | 34 | 35 | 36 |
| ACT English | 33 | 35 | 36 |
Why This Matters: With middle-50% ranges clustered at the very top of the scale, applicants should generally aim for at least a 1550 or 35 to stand out.
First-time, first-year students with scores in each range:
| Score Range | SAT Evidence-Based Reading + Writing | SAT Math |
|---|---|---|
| 700-800 | 92% | 95.79% |
| 600-699 | 8% | 3.58% |
| 500-599 | 0% | 0.53% |
| 400-499 | 0.00% | 0.11% |
| 300-399 | 0.09% | 0% |
| Score Range | SAT Composite |
|---|---|
| 1400-1600 | 96.32% |
| 1200-1399 | 3.47% |
| 1000-1199 | 0.11% |
| 800-999 | 0.11% |
| Score Range | ACT Composite | ACT English | ACT Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-36 | 97.78% | 97% | 93.73% |
| 24-29 | 2.22% | 2.45% | 5.72% |
| 18-23 | 0% | 0.55% | 0.55% |
Standardized Test Score Takeaways:
The median CMU enrollee posts extremely strong scores, even within an already elite pool
Because these numbers reflect enrolled students, many non-enrolling admits likely had even higher scores
Submitting a low score can meaningfully hurt your application
A verrrrrry small number of students fall outside these ranges, but those cases should absolutely not guide your strategy
To be a serious contender at Carnegie Mellon, your academic profile needs to be exceptionally strong. Scores that place you near the top nationally may still sit toward the lower end of CMU’s admitted range. The same logic follows for GPA and class rank: 98% of first time, first year freshmen submitted their GPAs and the average GPA submitted was 3.89.
| GPA Range | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 4 | 46.90% |
| 3.75 - 3.99 | 38.30% |
| 3.5 - 3.74 | 11.30% |
| 3.25 - 3.49 | 2.60% |
| 3.0 - 3.24 | 0.30% |
| 2.5 - 2.99 | 0.40% |
| 2.0 - 2.49 | 0.06% |
| 1.0 - 1.99 | 0.06% |
Key GPA Takeaways:
Anything meaningfully below a near-perfect GPA weakens an application, even though the spread looks more generous, the average GPA is still a 3.89
Students reporting GPAs under 3.75 are true statistical outliers
| Class Rank | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Top 10th of HS graduating class | 96.80% |
| Top Quarter of HS graduating class | 99.80% |
| Top Half of HS graduating class | 99.80% |
| Bottom Half of HS graduating class | 0.20% |
| Bottom Quarter of HS graduating class | 0.10% |
| Total submitting class rank | 98.20% |
Key Class Rank Takeaways:
Most enrolled students graduate near the top of their high school class
A ton more students submitted rank than we normally see
As class rank drops, admission odds decline sharply
Before anyone spirals, let’s be very clear: the tiny fraction of admitted students with lower scores are exceptions. They are not evidence of flexible standards. We don’t know who those students are or what circumstances shaped their outcomes. Some may be first-generation students (a category CMU cares a lot about), applicants from under-resourced schools, or individuals with extraordinary life contexts we cannot even fathom. You cannot build a strategy around becoming an exception.
TL;DR: If you want the strongest possible shot at CMU, you need perfect-as-possible grades and scores.
Considerations
This is the section of the Common Data Set where things stop being tidy and start becoming interpretive. CMU absolutely weighs concrete academic indicators, like coursework rigor, grades, and (when submitted) test scores, but those are only the foundation. Layered on top is a set of broader “considerations” that don’t come with a formula or checklist. These subjective factors are where thoughtful strategy matters most.
| Academic Factors | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | X | |||
| Class rank | X | |||
| Academic GPA | X | |||
| Standardized test scores | X | |||
| Application Essay | X | |||
| Recommendation(s) | X |
Key Takeaways for Academic Factors:
CMU cares deeply about you taking the hardest classes and getting the best grades possible
Test scores are very important if you submit them
| Nonacademic Factors | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interview | X | |||
| Extracurricular activities | X | |||
| Talent/ability | X | |||
| Character/personal qualities | X | |||
| First generation | X | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | X | |||
| Geographical residence | X | |||
| State residency | X | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | X | |||
| Volunteer work | X | |||
| Work experience | X | |||
| Level of applicant’s interest | X |
Key Takeaways for Nonacademic Factors:
CMU does not track demonstrated interest
CMU does not care about legacy status
Volunteer work is very important to CMU!
Some nonacademic elements are straightforward. Geographic background or first-generation status are factual details. Others are far more nuanced. Traits like intellectual curiosity, creativity, or talent can’t be quantified. Admissions officers infer them by reading across your entire application – essays, recommendations, activities, and overall voice. You can be intentional in how you present yourself, but you can’t fully control interpretation. Ultimately, CMU is reading for fit, which means you should also be asking whether your interests and personality genuinely align with the campus culture.
This is also where extracurriculars really matter. For applicants who are truly competitive at CMU, surface-level involvement isn’t enough. The strongest applications aren’t padded with random clubs or generic leadership roles. Instead, standout students go deep in a small number of pursuits, often in ways that feel technical, intentional, and sometimes unconventional and unique. Especially for our STEM hopefuls, this is crucial. Their activities tell a coherent story about how they think and what drives them. Depth, continuity, and originality matter here, and helping students build that kind of profile is exactly what we do every year.
Conclusion
There’s no question that Carnegie Mellon is extremely selective. By now, you should have a better understanding of what competitiveness at CMU actually looks like beyond reputation alone.
That said, admissions decisions aren’t made by spreadsheets. Data can reveal patterns and thresholds, but it can’t fully capture CMU’s priorities, and it certainly can’t define you. When we work with students, whether they’re applying Early Decision, Regular Decision, or navigating specialized programs, our approach is never the exact same. Every strategy is built around the student’s specific interests, strengths, and goals. There’s no guaranteed formula for getting into Carnegie Mellon – but there are smart, strategic choices that can significantly strengthen how your application is read.
One way to increase your odds? Working with college consultants who are experts in the field and have a high rate of success getting students into Carnegie Mellon. We help countless students gain admission to top universities every single year – reach out to us today to get started.