🤖Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA, US

QS World 2026 · #58

One of the world's leading computer science universities, and home to the US's first undergraduate AI degree.

About Carnegie Mellon

Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science is consistently ranked among the world's very best, and in 2018 it launched the United States' first dedicated undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence — a degree few universities anywhere in the world offer. Its Pittsburgh campus also houses the highly regarded Tepper School of Business and College of Fine Arts.

Why students choose it

  • World-leading Computer Science, consistently ranked top 3 globally
  • First university in the US with a dedicated undergraduate AI degree
  • Strong Tepper Business School and College of Fine Arts alongside CS

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Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to Carnegie Mellon — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

A*AA (A Level)  ·  IB 39

Top tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

$60,000+/yr

premium tier for US — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

campus campus, Pittsburgh, PA

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or Carnegie Mellon's financial aid office.

Scholarship access for international students is more limited than for US citizens — most need-based financial aid programmes are domestic-only, and only a small number of universities are 'need-blind' or meet full demonstrated need for international applicants. Merit scholarships (not tied to financial need) are more widely available and are the main route for most applicants.

  • University merit scholarships: Named awards like 'Presidential' or 'Dean's' scholarships at many universities — automatically considered from your application, based on academic record and sometimes essays/interviews.
  • Need-blind / full-need-met universities: A small group of highly selective universities (e.g. Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Amherst) admit international students without considering ability to pay and meet full demonstrated financial need — extremely competitive to gain admission in the first place.
  • Fulbright Program: US government-funded, but for postgraduate/research study and exchange, not linked to undergraduate admission.

Most US universities in this tool are private and do not offer significant need-based aid to international students — check each university's own international financial aid policy before assuming support is available.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Computer Science

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics

Artificial Intelligence

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics

Electrical & Computer Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

Drama

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Portfolio / audition

Architecture

⏱️ Typical duration: Often longer than a standard Bachelor's — commonly a 3-year Bachelor's plus a further 2-year Master's for full professional accreditation

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Typical entry: Portfolio

Design

⏱️ Typical duration: Often longer than a standard Bachelor's — commonly a 3-year Bachelor's plus a further 2-year Master's for full professional accreditation

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Typical entry: Portfolio

Durations are typical for US — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September (Fall)
Typical deadline
Regular Decision around 1 January
Note
Early Action / Early Decision rounds close around 1 November for students applying to one top-choice school early.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall

TOEFL: 80–100 iBT

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test. Many US universities also accept Duolingo English Test.

See where Carnegie Mellon ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free US University Shortlist Builder to see whether Carnegie Mellon is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other US university that matches.

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More US universities

Carnegie Mellon FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to Carnegie Mellon as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into Carnegie Mellon?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, Carnegie Mellon expects around A*AA at A Level or 39 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for Carnegie Mellon's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on Carnegie Mellon's own admissions page before applying.

How much does Carnegie Mellon cost for international students?

International tuition at Carnegie Mellon typically falls in the $60,000+/yr range (premium tier for US). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not Carnegie Mellon's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for Carnegie Mellon?

Carnegie Mellon follows US's typical intake calendar: September (Fall), with applications generally due regular decision around 1 january. Early Action / Early Decision rounds close around 1 November for students applying to one top-choice school early. Always verify the exact date on Carnegie Mellon's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for Carnegie Mellon?

US universities, including Carnegie Mellon, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall. Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test. Many US universities also accept Duolingo English Test.

What is Carnegie Mellon known for?

One of the world's leading computer science universities, and home to the US's first undergraduate AI degree. Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science is consistently ranked among the world's very best, and in 2018 it launched the United States' first dedicated undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence — a degree few universities anywhere in the world offer. Its Pittsburgh campus also houses the highly regarded Tepper School of Business and College of Fine Arts.

Can I apply to Carnegie Mellon with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — Carnegie Mellon accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free US University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against Carnegie Mellon and every other US university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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