Does Carnegie Mellon need GRE?

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) requirements for the GRE vary significantly by program; some programs (like certain CS Master's/PhD) strongly recommend or require it, while many others (like ECE PhD, Chemistry PhD, Architecture) have made it optional or not required for recent cycles, relying more on holistic review, but always check your specific program's page, as some (like Tepper Business PhD) still mandate GMAT/GRE.

Is GRE mandatory for CMU?

A GRE subject test in science, engineering, computer science, math, etc. is recommended but not required. Our Institution Code is 2074; Department Code is 0402. (This requirement is waived for CMU undergrads.) TOEFL scores: Required if English is not your native language.

Does CMU require GRE for PhD?

We request 3 letters, at least two of which are from faculty or recent employers. Letters are due by the final application deadline date. GRE scores are optional. An application without GRE scores is not at a disadvantage; however, applicants who have taken the GRE are encouraged to submit their scores.

What is required to get into Carnegie Mellon?

With a GPA of 3.89, Carnegie Mellon requires you to be near the top of your class, and well above average. Your transcript should show mostly A's. Ideally, you will also have taken several AP or IB classes to show that you can handle academics at a college level.

Which is harder to get into, CMU or CU?

Is University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz) or Central Michigan University (CMU) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into? If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz) is more difficult to get into.

Carnegie Mellon: The pros, the cons, and how to get in.

Is Carnegie Mellon as good as the Ivy League?

Yes, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is widely considered to be on par with Ivy League schools, often labeled a "New Ivy" by publications like Forbes and Newsweek due to its exceptional academics, particularly in STEM (Computer Science, Engineering, AI) and highly-ranked programs, leading to excellent career outcomes and strong employer recognition, similar to or even surpassing some Ivies in specific fields and salary potential. While not part of the traditional Ivy League, CMU competes at the highest tier of universities, offering comparable or superior value in areas like career launch and tech innovation.
 

What is the easiest Ivy League to get into?

While all Ivy League schools are highly selective, Cornell University is generally considered the "easiest" to get into due to having the highest acceptance rate (around 8-9%), partly because it's the largest Ivy with diverse colleges, like the less competitive Agriculture and Life Sciences, though its engineering programs are tough. Dartmouth College and Brown University often follow as the next most accessible Ivies, while Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia are typically the most difficult, with lower acceptance rates. 

Did Mark Zuckerberg get a 1600 on his SAT?

Yes, reports widely state that Mark Zuckerberg scored a perfect 1600 (or sometimes a near-perfect 1590) on his SAT, achieving top marks before attending Harvard University, consistent with his reputation as a gifted student and programmer.
 

Is CMU or MIT better for CS?

Neither Carnegie Mellon (CMU) nor MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) is definitively "better," as both are top-tier for Computer Science (CS), consistently ranked #1 or #2 nationally/globally, but they offer different experiences: CMU excels in practical, deep CS focus with interdisciplinary strength and strong job placement, while MIT provides broader prestige, deeper theoretical depth, and a wider range of STEM opportunities, though its culture can be more intense and its social scene different. Your choice depends on your learning style (practical vs. theoretical) and career goals (pure CS vs. broader STEM/finance/consulting). 

How much does 4 years at Carnegie Mellon cost?

At Carnegie Mellon University, the total cost is $88,886. The net price is the average cost of the university after aid and scholarship funds are discounted from the total cost, which comes in at $30,945 for the average student receiving need-based aid.

Is GRE waived off for 2025?

For a 2025 GRE fee waiver (reduction), you typically apply through ETS by proving financial need with your FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI) or demonstrating unemployment, with potential vouchers reducing the cost to about $100 for the General Test and offering free prep materials. You must complete the GRE Fee Reduction Voucher Request Form and submit supporting documents via email to [email protected]. 

Is CMU a top 25 school?

Yes, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is consistently ranked as a top 25 university nationally, placing #20 in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, and is highly regarded globally, especially for its technology and computer science programs. Its strong performance places it among the elite universities in the U.S., often tied with other prestigious institutions like Michigan, Notre Dame, and Washington University in St. Louis. 

What score is a 70% on the GRE?

A 70% on the GRE means you scored better than 70% of other test-takers, translating roughly to a 156 in Verbal Reasoning or a lower score like 150-152 in Quantitative Reasoning, as Quant is typically harder and has higher scores for the same percentile, with recent data showing 156 Verbal as ~70th percentile and 160 Quant as ~70th percentile, so it varies by section, but a 70% generally means a solid score in the mid-150s or higher. 

Can I get into NYU without GRE?

The GRE or GMAT is optional for admission into most of NYU Wagner's master's-level programs. However, the GRE or GMAT is required for those applying to the PhD in Public Administration and strongly encouraged for the Master of Science in Public Policy (MSPP) program.

Is 327 a good GRE score?

Yes, a 327 GRE score is excellent for MBA, as it is above the average for most top 10–20 US business schools, and competitive even at elite programs like Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, and MIT Sloan. A 327 GRE places you around the 85th–90th percentile, which makes you a strong applicant at most MBA programs.

Why does Carnegie Mellon have so many international students?

“It was the talent that brought them here, and so much of that talent is international,” said Audrey Russo, CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council. Sixty-one percent of the master's and doctoral students at Carnegie Mellon come from abroad, according to the university.

Is CMU better than Ivy League?

Carnegie Mellon (CMU) isn't technically an Ivy League but is often considered a "New Ivy" because it rivals or surpasses Ivies in specific, highly-regarded programs like Computer Science and Engineering, while Ivies generally lead in fields like humanities, law, and business; the "better" choice depends entirely on your intended major and career goals, as CMU excels in tech/STEM, while Ivies offer broad, prestigious liberal arts and professional schools. CMU is highly valued by employers, especially in tech, often outperforming Ivies in graduate career outcomes for these fields.
 

What is the top 1 university in computer science?

While rankings vary slightly by source, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) consistently ranks as the #1 computer science university globally and in the U.S., often followed closely by Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), and the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), with institutions like the University of Oxford and ETH Zurich also leading internationally. 

Who is MIT's biggest rival?

MIT and Caltech are both highly competitive science institutions, and applicants must meet minimum GPA requirements. While grades and accolades are important at both of these top universities, both consider applicants holistically, beyond academics.

What was Taylor Swift's SAT score?

Taylor Swift's SAT score is not publicly known because she left high school early to pursue her music career and never officially took the SATs for college admission, though she was academically successful in high school, graduating early with a 4.0 GPA before focusing on music. She famously called out a practice test for misquoting her lyrics, highlighting her strong grasp of grammar despite not needing the test.
 

What is the 80% rule Zuckerberg?

Googlers call Zuckerberg's approach the 80 percent rule

She calls this idea the 80 percent rule. It states you should schedule only about 80 percent of your days. Leave 20 percent open to absorb whatever craziness comes up.

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

What's harder to get into, Brown or Cornell?

If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then Brown University is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.