Frequently Asked Questions

You and your family may have questions about applying to Carnegie Mellon. We have answers! We hope the information below will clarify some of our recent policy updates and provide a better understanding of our Admission process. We're here to help, so if you still have questions after browsing, you can reach our office via LiveChat, email or phone during normal business hours.

We've joined over 300 other colleges and universities to sign this collective statement from Harvard’s Making Caring Common project.

Will first-year applicants be expected to submit SAT or ACT scores?

Our testing policy varies depending on your desired college or program:

School of Computer Science - SAT or ACT scores required
College of Fine Arts - test optional (standardized testing scores are not required)
All other schools/colleges - test flexible (students choose which test scores to submit: SAT, ACT, International Baccalaureate*, Advanced Placement, Cambridge A-Level*, French Baccalaureate*):

*Predicted or actual results/scores

Carnegie Mellon is committed to a holistic approach to admission. No single grade, factor, score or activity guarantees or disqualifies any candidate admission to Carnegie Mellon. We treat every applicant as an individual, taking great care to make our admission decisions fairly, thoroughly and in context. We’re interested in students who can be successful at Carnegie Mellon, enrich our campus community and take full advantage of all the university has to offer.

Which English proficiency tests do you accept?

If English is not a first language for you, you must submit official results from the TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge English Assessment or Duolingo English Test exams.

While we only accept the IELTS Academic exam, we accept three versions of the TOEFL: the iBT, the iBT Home Edition and the Essentials exam.

To ensure we can consider your scores, all results must still be valid when you submit them.

Are SAT Subject Tests required or recommended?

The College Board no longer offers SAT Subject Tests. These test results are neither required nor recommended, and prior scores won’t be considered in our admission review process.

Which application plans are available for applicants?

Carnegie Mellon offers three different ways to apply: Early Decision, Regular Decision and Transfer Admission.

Early Decision: This is for students who know Carnegie Mellon is their first choice and will enroll if admitted. Applications are due November 3 and students are notified by December 15.

Regular Decision: Most students choose this plan, as they have until January 5 to apply. Music and Drama applicants must submit their applications by December 1 to leave time to schedule auditions.

Transfer Admission: If you've completed a semester of college in a degree-granting program, you can submit your transfer application until February 15.

Please visit our Application Deadlines page for more information.

Can I switch my application from Regular to Early Decision?

Yes! You can switch your application plan from Regular Decision to Early Decision, as long as you do so before the November 1 Early Decision application deadline. If you decide to participate in Early Decision, we'll send you a decision in December.

Am I allowed to use ChatGPT or other AI tools to structure my supplemental essay and improve language?

Carnegie Mellon has always been a first mover in the AI space and remains deeply engaged in shaping the future of AI technologies and their uses. As we continue to learn about these tools and lean into their opportunities, we also want to address their challenges. While AI may be a helpful tool in the college admission process, it’s crucial to approach it cautiously.

Carnegie Mellon wants to know applicants as individuals, and submitting genuine, authentic application materials can make a significant difference. AI should never replace your unique voice, experiences and personal expression and, if used at all, should only serve as a supplementary tool to enhance your writing (i.e., grammar and spelling checks, suggested structural or vocabulary improvements).

Additionally, if the generated content closely resembles published work, there may be a risk of unintentional plagiarism. Carefully consider any and all risks when using generative AI for any part of your application.

Are there any additional requirements for application to the College of Fine Arts?

All College of Fine Arts applicants must submit additional materials beyond our general admission requirements. Each School handles pre-screens, auditions, and portfolio reviews slightly differently:

Please review our College of Fine Arts Applicants page for more information.

My course grades were switched to pass/fail during the pandemic. How will this impact my academic review?

We understand and support the move to pass/fail grading options which many schools and colleges adopted as a valid COVID-19 accommodation. As such, we will accept pass/fail results in the normal review of transcripts during this time.

How do I submit my final high school transcript?

If you're admitted and decide to enroll at Carnegie Mellon, your high school counselor or a school official are required to send us your final transcript, which includes your graduation date, before the first day of fall semester classes.

If you attended a school where final grades aren’t released until late summer or early fall, please request that your school submit your final transcript as soon as it’s available.

If you're receiving financial aid, your final transcript should be submitted by mid-August. A complete final transcript is required for your federal financial aid to be disbursed to your student account, so you may not see this funding appear on your account until we've received this document.

You can confirm we’ve received your final transcript by logging into your Where Am I in the Process? portal(opens in new window). If your school already sent your transcript, please allow a few business days for it to appear in your portal.

For High School Officials

Final transcripts can be sent electronically via your school's document submission system, emailed to @email(opens in new window) or mailed to:

Carnegie Mellon University
Office of Admission
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

If you're worried about a transcript arriving on time or have other questions, we're here to help! Feel free to call our office at 412.268.2082(opens in new window) or reply directly to this email.

Admission FAQ