Carnegie Mellon University Acceptance Rate
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 33,707
- Admitted
- 3,843
- Yield
- 44.4%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Carnegie Mellon University's acceptance rate has fallen from 24.6% in 2014–15 to 11.4% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 19,812 to 33,707 (+70%) over that period.
Its 11.4% rate makes Carnegie Mellon University more selective than about 97% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 108 tracked Pennsylvania schools, it is more selective than about 97%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (14.6% for women vs 9.2% for men, a 5.4-point gap). Carnegie Mellon University has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 44.4% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 19,812 | 4,874 | 24.6% | 1,474 |
| 2015–16 | 20,547 | 4,873 | 23.7% | 1,575 |
| 2016–17 | 21,189 | 4,601 | 21.7% | 1,552 |
| 2017–18 | 20,497 | 4,550 | 22.2% | 1,676 |
| 2018–19 | 24,351 | 4,170 | 17.1% | 1,572 |
| 2019–20 | 27,634 | 4,267 | 15.4% | 1,585 |
| 2020–21 | 26,189 | 4,524 | 17.3% | 1,637 |
| 2021–22 | 32,896 | 4,453 | 13.5% | 1,896 |
| 2022–23 | 34,261 | 3,873 | 11.3% | 1,716 |
| 2023–24 | 33,707 | 3,843 | 11.4% | 1,708 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 12,853 | 1,878 | 14.6% |
| Men | 19,656 | 1,808 | 9.2% |
| Another gender | 1,198 | 157 | 13.1% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 730–770 | 51% |
| SAT Math | 770–800 | |
| ACT Composite | 34–35 | 17% |
How Carnegie Mellon University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Carnegie Mellon University's acceptance rate?
Carnegie Mellon University's acceptance rate is 11.4% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (3,843 admitted of 33,707 applicants).
Is Carnegie Mellon University test optional?
Carnegie Mellon University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Carnegie Mellon University?
Carnegie Mellon University received 33,707 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 3,843.
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon University?
Admitted students at Carnegie Mellon University typically scored 730–770 on SAT Reading/Writing and 770–800 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Carnegie Mellon University getting harder to get into?
Carnegie Mellon University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 24.6% in 2014–15 to 11.4% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.cmu.edu/.