Carnegie Mellon ACT: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

With an average composite score of 35 and a middle 50% range of 34 to 35, Carnegie Mellon represents an exceptionally selective institution where only about 11% of applicants gain admission each year, making standardized test scores one of the most critical filtering mechanisms in the process. The vast majority of admitted students score at or above the 25th percentile of 34, which itself is extraordinarily high compared to the national average. Carnegie Mellon's test-optional policy means you have flexibility in whether to submit scores, but among those who do submit, the competition at these elevated score ranges is fierce.

A good ACT score for Carnegie Mellon typically falls in the range of 34 to 35, with 35 representing the median that matches the admitted student profile. However, you should understand that a 35 ACT score does not guarantee admission to Carnegie Mellon, even though it is an exceptional achievement. The school receives applications from thousands of high-achieving students with similar or identical test scores, and many of them are rejected because Carnegie Mellon evaluates you comprehensively. Your coursework difficulty, grades, essays, extracurricular accomplishments, letters of recommendation, and how you demonstrate intellectual curiosity all factor heavily into the decision.

While there is no official minimum ACT score mandated by the university, you should realistically target a score of at least 33 to have a meaningful chance of being considered for admission. Scoring below 33 places you in the bottom 25% of admitted students, and an ACT score significantly below that range would make your acceptance substantially unlikely unless you possess truly extraordinary strengths elsewhere in your application. That said, Carnegie Mellon emphasizes holistic review, meaning that if your ACT score falls short of their typical range but you demonstrate remarkable talent, leadership, or achievements in other areas, you should not automatically discount yourself. Just be realistic about the statistical headwinds you would face.

Carnegie Mellon currently maintains a test-optional policy for most colleges within the university, though the School of Computer Science strongly encourages you to submit SAT or ACT scores and emphasizes the math section in particular. This means you have the choice of whether to submit standardized test scores as part of your application, and the university will not penalize you if you opt not to report them. However, for fall 2026 admissions and beyond, some colleges will shift to test-flexible or test-required policies, so you should verify the current requirements for your intended program before you apply.

Carnegie Mellon does not superscore the ACT, which is an important distinction from how they treat SAT scores. When you submit ACT results, the university considers only the composite score from your highest single test date and does not combine your best individual section scores from different testing dates to create a higher composite. This means you should focus your test preparation on achieving your best possible composite score on a single administration, though you are welcome to take the test multiple times and submit whichever single attempt you feel best represents your abilities.

Understanding how Carnegie Mellon incorporates your ACT score into the larger admissions evaluation requires recognizing that the test is just one data point among many. Your academic transcript, particularly your performance in rigorous courses, carries significant weight because it demonstrates consistent achievement over time. Even applicants with a 35 ACT can be denied because test scores alone cannot capture your ability to contribute meaningfully to the CMU community or your potential to make an impact. The university's admissions officers use test scores to verify that you possess the intellectual foundation to succeed in their challenging academic programs, but the score does not make the case for admission by itself.

At a school with Carnegie Mellon's selectivity and 11% acceptance rate, having a strong ACT score actually narrows the pool of competitors but does not separate you from the thousands of other applicants with equally impressive scores. Your essays, where you explain your passion for your intended major and how you think about complex problems, become critical. Your teachers' letters of recommendation provide insight into how you engage intellectually and contribute to your classroom community. Your extracurricular involvements show what you care about deeply and where you have demonstrated commitment and growth. Your ACT score establishes that you have the academic capability to thrive at CMU, but the rest of your application demonstrates whether you deserve one of the roughly 3,100 admission spots CMU offers each year and whether you represent the kind of student who will shape the university's campus culture.

AdmitStudio users who have found success at top colleges often approach their applications as a single, cohesive story, not a checklist of impressive achievements. Rather than treating essays, activities, and recommendations as separate pieces, they focus on presenting themselves as a clear, memorable individual with defined values, motivations, and strengths. Their essays help admissions officers understand why they pursued certain activities, how their experiences shaped them, and what kind of person they would be on campus. This clarity makes it easier for readers to grasp who the applicant is within just a few minutes of review.

AdmitStudio users who are successful also tend to use their essays to connect and reinforce the rest of their application, not repeat it. The essay highlights a few core traits, such as curiosity, leadership, resilience, or initiative, while the activities list and recommendations quietly support those same traits with evidence. By aligning every part of the application around a consistent narrative, these students stand out not because they try to be extraordinary, but because they are specific, authentic, and intentional. Admissions officers come away with a strong sense of the applicant's identity and how they would uniquely contribute to the university community.