Admission & test scores

Carnegie Mellon University SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1500–1570 on the SAT, with an ACT midpoint of 34. Carnegie Mellon University admits 12% of applicants — highly selective. 98% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1500–1570middle half of admits
ACT midpoint34admitted students
Acceptance rate12%highly selective
First-year retention98%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile
1500
Average
1546
75th percentile
1570

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1500 and a quarter above 1570. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 7,304.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

UniversityAvg SATACTAcceptanceIn-state tuition
Brown University Providence, Rhode Island 1546 34 5% $71,412
Harvey Mudd College Claremont, California 1545 35 13% $68,613
Duke University Durham, North Carolina 1548 34 6% $68,758
Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee 1549 35 6% $67,498
Stanford University Stanford, California 1553 35 4% $65,910
Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland 1553 — 6% $65,230

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

Carnegie Mellon University admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon University?
The middle half of admitted students scored between 1500 and 1570 on the SAT, with an average of 1546. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.
What ACT score does Carnegie Mellon University require?
The ACT midpoint of admitted students is 34.
How hard is it to get into Carnegie Mellon University?
Carnegie Mellon University admits 12% of applicants, which is highly selective. Of those who enrol, 98% return for a second year.
Does Carnegie Mellon University require SAT or ACT scores?
This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.
What it costs Student loan record Debt vs graduate salary Highest SAT universities Highest acceptance rates SAT & ACT preparation

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.