Is Carnegie Mellon Test Optional? SAT and ACT Scores (2026)

Carnegie Mellon now asks for scores from almost every applicant. Here is the policy college by college, the latest SAT and ACT ranges from its Common Data Set, and the test dates that still count this cycle.

Carnegie Mellon is not test optional for most applicants for fall 2027 entry: under the policy on CMU's testing page now, the School of Computer Science requires an SAT or ACT score, five other colleges and programs are "test flexible" (you must send scores, but AP, IB and a few other exams count), and only the College of Fine Arts is test optional. Among first-year students who enrolled in fall 2025 and submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1500 to 1560 on the SAT and 34 to 36 on the ACT, according to Carnegie Mellon's 2025-26 Common Data Set. The SAT Math 75th percentile is a perfect 800.

This guide covers the policy for each college, what the score ranges do and do not tell you, how CMU treats superscores and self-reported scores, and which SAT and ACT dates still fit the Regular Decision deadline.

Is Carnegie Mellon Test Optional for Fall 2027?

Mostly no. CMU ended its pandemic-era test-optional policy starting with applicants for fall 2026. The Provost announced the change in an August 29, 2024 letter and said the Pittsburgh campus would use a policy that "varies according to college or program." CMU has announced no change since. Its standardized testing page and admission FAQ state the same structure in the present tense with no end date, and its application plans page already lists this cycle's deadlines (November 2 for Early Decision, January 4 for Regular Decision). One older page, the admission consideration page, still labels it the policy "for fall 2026," so confirm the requirement for your program inside the application:

The wording on CMU's standardized testing page is direct: "The Griffin School of Computer Science requires an SAT or an ACT score." For the test flexible colleges, it says "students are required to submit test scores in order to complete their application," but they choose which kind of test. IB, Cambridge A-Level and French Baccalaureate results can be predicted scores, with actual results due only if you are admitted and enroll.

In practice, test flexible is not a quiet version of test optional. If you apply to Engineering, Dietrich, Information Systems, Mellon College of Science or Tepper without an SAT or ACT, you still need another accepted exam on file. A student whose only AP score is a 3 in one subject is in a very different position from a student with five AP exams and a strong SAT. If you have a competitive SAT or ACT, sending it is the cleanest way to meet the requirement.

Carnegie Mellon SAT and ACT Scores

The table below comes from section C9 of CMU's 2025-26 Common Data Set. It describes enrolled first-year students on the Pittsburgh campus who submitted scores, not everyone who was admitted. CMU's 2026 Quick Facts sheet lists the same 790 Math and 750 Reading and Writing medians for its 2025 entering cohort.

The same section reports that 65.5% of enrolled first-years submitted an SAT score (1,182 students) and 18.1% submitted an ACT score (327 students). Among SAT submitters, 93.4% scored between 1400 and 1600. Among ACT submitters, 93.6% had a composite between 30 and 36.

Two cautions when you read these numbers:

• This class applied under the old policy. Students who entered in fall 2025 applied when CMU was still test optional, so not everyone sent scores. The fall 2026 class is the first admitted under the new rules, and its numbers will appear in the next Common Data Set (CMU's 2026-27 file lists section C as pending).
• The ranges are for the whole university. CMU does not publish separate score ranges for each college in its Common Data Set, so there is no official School of Computer Science SAT range to compare against.

For context on how far these numbers sit above the national picture, see our guide to the average SAT score.

What SAT or ACT Score Should You Aim For at CMU?

CMU says no single score "guarantees or disqualifies" an applicant, and it reads every file in context. Still, the published ranges give you a fair target. Our reading of the Common Data Set, which is an estimate and not a CMU rule:

The section scores matter as much as the total. The SAT Math median is 790 and the 75th percentile is a perfect 800, so a 1500 built on a 700 in Math reads very differently from a 1500 with a 780 in Math, especially for Computer Science, Engineering or Mellon College of Science. When CMU was still test optional, the Provost's letter strongly encouraged Computer Science applicants to submit an SAT or ACT "including the math subscore."

If you are within 30 to 40 points of the median, a focused retake can be worth it, mainly on Math. Our plan for how to get a 1500 on the SAT breaks down the section splits that get you there, and is 34 a good ACT score explains where a 34 places you nationally. Applicants weighing MIT as well can compare its ranges in our MIT SAT and ACT guide.

Superscoring, Self-Reporting and Test Timing

CMU's testing page sets out several rules worth knowing before you send anything:

• SAT is superscored, ACT is not. CMU will combine your best SAT section scores across test dates, but says it is "unable to accept superscored results for the ACT exam." For the ACT, plan on your best single sitting. Our ACT superscore guide explains how an ACT superscore is calculated and which colleges accept one.
• Self-reported scores are fine. You can self-report through the Common Application or share an unofficial score report, and official reports are required only if you are admitted and enroll. See how to self-report SAT scores for the Common App steps.
• Junior and senior year scores are preferred. CMU encourages 11th or 12th grade results (tests from the summer after 10th grade are fine) and says it would take the timing of much older tests into account.
• Codes: the CMU SAT code is 2074 and the ACT code is 3534.

On timing, CMU prefers that all testing be done by November 1 for Early Decision and by January 3 for Regular Decision. For Early Decision, a November test is possible if you list it on the Common Application, which can delay review, and CMU states that "December testing is too late for Early Decision consideration."

For Regular Decision applicants, two more test dates still fit before January 3:

SAT dates and score release dates are from College Board's score release calendar; ACT dates are from act.org's registration page and score release table. If you sat for the SAT on November 7, your scores arrive November 20, which leaves time to decide whether the December 5 test is worth a retake.

Carnegie Mellon Deadlines and Admission Rate

CMU offers Early Decision and Regular Decision for first-year applicants. It does not offer Early Action (section C22 of the Common Data Set answers "No"). From CMU's application plans page:

Early Decision is not available for the School of Drama, BXA Design programs or the School of Music, and you can apply to only one college within the university. By the time you read this, the Early Decision deadline has passed, so Regular Decision on January 4 is the remaining plan for most students. If you are still comparing binding and nonbinding rounds at other schools, our early action vs early decision guide walks through the trade-offs.

Section C1 of the 2025-26 Common Data Set shows how selective CMU was for the class that entered in fall 2025:

The Early Decision rate is higher, but the Early Decision pool is self-selected and the round is binding, so a higher rate does not mean a weaker applicant would have been admitted. Treat it as context, not a shortcut.

Frequently Asked Questions About Carnegie Mellon SAT and ACT Scores

Is Carnegie Mellon test optional for 2027?

Under the policy on CMU's testing page now, only the College of Fine Arts is test optional for fall 2027 entry. The School of Computer Science requires the SAT or ACT, and Engineering, Dietrich, Heinz Information Systems, Mellon College of Science and Tepper are test flexible, which means some accepted exam score is required.

What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon?

The middle 50% of enrolled fall 2025 first-years who submitted the SAT scored 1500 to 1560, with a median of 1540. A score of 1540 or higher puts you at or above the median; below 1500 puts you under the middle range.

What ACT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon?

The middle 50% ACT composite for the same group was 34 to 36, with a median of 35. CMU does not superscore the ACT, so your best single sitting is the score that counts.

Does Carnegie Mellon superscore the SAT?

Yes. CMU allows superscoring of SAT results across test dates. It does not accept superscored ACT results.

Does CMU accept self-reported test scores?

Yes. You can self-report SAT or ACT scores on the Common Application or share an unofficial score report. Official score reports are needed only if you are admitted and choose to enroll.

What is Carnegie Mellon's acceptance rate?

CMU's 2025-26 Common Data Set shows 3,859 admitted out of 34,867 first-year applicants for fall 2025, an admission rate of about 11%.

If a December SAT or ACT is your last shot before CMU's January 4 deadline, short daily practice on your weakest section will move you further than one more full-length test. Larry Learns has 30,000+ SAT and ACT practice questions on web, iPhone and Android, a score estimate that tracks your progress, and 3 free quizzes a day. Try a free practice quiz, or create a free account to keep your streak going through test day.