Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh is the best computer science university in the world by most measures, and one of the strongest for engineering, business, design and drama. It is small, intense and expensive — and it admits by school, so an application to the School of Computer Science is an application to that school, not to the university in general. For a Pakistani student aiming at a top CS or engineering career, CMU is the hardest ticket in the world and one of the most valuable.
At a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Type | Private research university (founded 1900) |
| Undergraduate tuition (2026-27) | $69,702 a year |
| Total cost of attendance (2026-27) | $93,614 a year for resident first-years (before health insurance, $3,093) |
| Acceptance rate | About 11.1% for Fall 2025 (3,859 admitted of 34,867 applicants) |
| Per-unit tuition rate | $969 |
| Aid for international undergraduates | None — CMU states it does not offer undergraduate financial aid to international students |
Programmes
The School of Computer Science is the flagship: it is the only school of its kind in the US, and its graduates are recruited by every major technology company. The College of Engineering is equally strong, and the Tepper School of Business MBA costs $84,186 a year. Graduate tuition varies by programme, from about $60,400 to $69,000 a year. CMU is also famous for robotics, artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction and drama — a combination no other university offers. Undergraduate tuition is a flat rate for all programmes, so a CS degree costs the same as a drama degree.
Fees and funding
The 2026-27 undergraduate bill is $91,214 for tuition, fees, housing and meals (tuition $69,702, fees $1,862, housing and dining $19,650), and $93,614 once books ($1,000), personal expenses ($1,300) and loan fees are added. Health insurance is a further $3,093 if you cannot waive it. The hard fact for international students is the aid policy: CMU states plainly that it does not offer undergraduate financial aid to international students, so you and your family must plan to pay the total cost of attendance. Graduate students are funded differently — many PhD students receive full funding, and master's students should ask their department about assistantships before applying.
Admission
CMU admits by college and school, and the School of Computer Science does not publish a separate acceptance rate — it is well below the university's 11.1% overall rate. Applicants need exceptional grades in mathematics and science, strong essays, and evidence of genuine interest in their field (competitions, projects, research). SAT and ACT are test-optional. Deadlines for 2027-28 entry should be confirmed on CMU's admissions pages; the university publishes its application plans and deadlines each year.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Carnegie Mellon cost? $69,702 in tuition and $93,614 total cost of attendance for first-year residents in 2026-27, before health insurance.
Does CMU give financial aid to international students? No undergraduate financial aid for international students. Graduate funding, including PhD funding, is separate — ask your department.
How hard is it to get into CMU computer science? Extremely hard. The university admitted 11.1% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025, and the School of Computer Science is more selective still.
What is CMU best for? Computer science, robotics, artificial intelligence, engineering, business (Tepper) and drama.
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Sources and verification: Carnegie Mellon Student Financial Services 2026-27 Undergraduate Tuition & Fees (tuition $69,702, total cost of attendance $93,614 resident first-years, health insurance $3,093, per-unit rate $969) and CMU Common Data Set 2025-2026 (3,859 admitted of 34,867, 11.1%). Graduate tuition and 2027-28 rates to be confirmed on cmu.edu.