College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University is one of the oldest comprehensive arts training institutions in the U.S. Carnegie Mellon ranks in the top 5 national universities for having the highest percentage of international students from outside the U.S. College of Fine Arts programs are offered through its 5 schools and associated programs through BXA Intercollege Degree Programs and Arts & Entertainment Management and the Miller Institute for Contemporary Art and the Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry.
The primary intake for admission to the College of Fine Arts is fall. Students will have to fulfill additional requirements such as pre-screening, portfolio, audition, interview to formally demonstrate competencies for admission to the college. SAT or ACT scores are required for admission to undergraduate programs. Submitting GRE scores for graduate admission is optional.
The tuition fee for international undergraduate students at College of Fine Arts is 57,560 USD. The basic tuition for graduate programs range between 35,240-42,000 USD depending on the choice of program. International undergraduate students are not offered financial aid at the college while graduate students may receive some scholarships from their department at the time of admission. The rent of on-campus accommodation is feasible. The annual room charges for undergraduates is 9,614 USD and for graduates is 10,770 USD.
Check Admission Process of CMU!
College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University Rankings
- The School of Architecture ranked 11th in the nation for accredited B.Arch programs according to DesignIntelligence 2019-20. The School of Design has ranked in the top 5 schools for over a decade in the U.S. News and World Report 2021.
- The School of Drama founded in 1914 is the oldest Drama school in the U.S. and home to 122 Emmy Award winners. The Fiske Guide to Colleges and Universities has ranked the School of Music in the top 10 music schools nationwide. The College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University is recognized among one of the top 10 institutions in the U.S. for Fine Arts programs in the U.S. News.
- In the U.S. News and World Report 2021, the college ranked #7 in Best Fine Arts Programs and #1 in Time-Based Media/ New Media.
Highlights
| Type of Establishment | Private |
| Location | Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh |
| Campus Setting | Urban |
| Mode of Program | Full-time/ Part-time |
| Application Portal | Online Application |
| Application Fees | 75 USD |
| Test Score Accepted | SAT/ ACT/ GRE |
| Basic Tuition Fee for International Undergraduate Students | 57,560 USD |
| Basic Tuition Fee for International Graduate Students | 35,240-42,000 USD |
| Financial Aid | Limited departmental scholarships |
| Official Website | https://www.cmu.edu/cfa/ |
College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University Campus
The campus of Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh that is ranked among the top U.S. cities for millennials.
- More than 250 annual performance events are organized by the students and faculty of the School of Music.
- The university offers athletic and recreation facilities through the Jared L. Cohon University Center that includes the Wiegand Gym, racquetball court and lap and dive pools.
- Pittsburgh offers a wide range of food options with food trucks, farm-to-table dinners, craft beer, locally roasted coffee as well as organic and vegan options.
- There are a large number of student-run clubs and organizations, including musical programs, academic honor societies, and special interest groups on the campus of this deemed college.
- Student Affairs comprises numerous offices whose aim is to look after the needs of the students including leadership development, housing options, public service, career exploration, and community engagement, and several others.
College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University Accommodation
College of Fine Arts students are offered accommodation on Carnegie Mellon University. The university offers accommodation in traditional residence halls, apartments, suites and full houses.
- All incoming freshmen students are required to live on campus.
- The residence halls provide common facilities such as wireless network, shared bathroom, kitchen, lounge, hallways, parking area, housekeeping, block housing, etc.
- Residence halls have single, double, triple and quad options.
- First-year housing options include Boss House, Clyde House, Donner House, E-Tower, Fifth Neville Apartments, Hamerschlag House, Henderson House, Margaret Morrison Apartment, McGill House, Morewood Gardens, Mudge, Scobell, Stever, Residence on Fifth, Welch, West Wing among others.
- Apartments have one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom options with in-room cooking facilities.
- First-year students must submit housing applications by May 31.
The rent for on-campus accommodation for first year students are:
| Accommodation Type | Rent (in USD) |
|---|---|
| Boss House | 10,614-12,322 |
| Clyde House | 11,914 |
| Donner House | 9,614-11,230 |
| Fifth Neville | 11,914-12,276 |
| Scobell | 9,614-11,230 |
| Stever | 9,614 |
College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University Programs
- The College of Fine Arts provides programs in Architecture, Art, Design, Drama, Music, Arts and Entertainment Management and BXA.
- Programs at the College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University are organized into 7 divisions.
- The college is well-known for its programs in Arts, Design and Architecture.
- The institute’s School of Drama is the oldest drama school in the U.S. founded in 1914.
- The College of Music is among the top 10 music schools in the U.S. according to the Fiske Guide to Colleges and Universities.
The tuition fee for various colleges and schools of the College of Fine Arts are as follows:
| College/ School | Tuition (in USD) |
|---|---|
| Architecture | 38,990 |
| Art | 35,240 |
| Design | 42,000 |
| Drama | 36,300 |
| Music | 41,000 |
| TCP | 41,000 |
| Music 1+2 | 41,000 |
College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University Admission Process
College of Fine Arts of Carnegie Mellon University invites applications through the online application portal with an application fee of 75 USD. Each program has additional application requirements that must be fulfilled for admission.
How to Apply?
The process and requirements for admission to College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University are discussed below:
Application Process: Online Application
Application Fee: 75 USD
Application Deadline: Early Decision - November 1; Regular Decision - January 3; Applications for graduate programs are accepted starting from October 15 and are reviewed from January 15.
Admission Requirements: The following documents must be submitted along with the application for admission:
- Official high school transcripts
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Secondary school evaluation
- SAT/ ACT scores
- Teacher recommendation
- Pre-screening
- Portfolio/ Audition
- Interview
- Essay
- Updated resume
- Copy of passport
Graduate applicants must submit the following documents in addition to program-specific requirements:
- Transcripts from each previously attended institution listing degree and conferral dates
- Copy of optional GRE score
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Letters of Recommendation
- Personal Essay
- Video Statement
- Updated CV/ Resume
- Portfolio
English Language Requirements
International applicants must submit one of the following test scores as proof of English language proficiency:
Note: Duolingo English Test is accepted for admission in 2022 and beyond. The score requirements will be specified by the university later.
College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University Cost of Attendance
The undergraduate tuition and fees are given in the table below:
| Expense | Amount (in USD) |
|---|---|
| Tuition | 57,560 |
| Orientation Fee | 400 |
| Activity Fee | 270 |
| Transportation Fee | 244 |
| Media Fee | 10 |
| Technology Fee | 440 |
| Room and Fees | 9,614 |
| Dining | 6,536 |
| Books and Supplies/ Miscellaneous | 2,400 |
| Total | 77,474 |
The cost of attendance for graduate students at the College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University is given in the table below:
| Expense | Cost (in USD) |
|---|---|
| Tuition | 35,240-42,000 |
| Student Activities Fee | 222 |
| Room | 10,770 |
| Board | 6,462 |
| Books and Supplies | 2,212 |
| Health Insurance | 3,021 |
| Personal and Miscellaneous Expenses | 3,016 |
| Travel Allowance | 1,292 |
| Transportation Fee | 244 |
| Technology Fee | 440 |
College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University Financial Aid
International students at the College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University must be prepared to cover the complete cost of living in US as financial aid is not available for international undergraduate students. Graduate international students may be considered for some scholarships or fellowships that may be offered by their academic department.
College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University Alumni
The alumni of Carnegie Mellon University have access to various resources such as an online alumni community, career and professional development tools, alumni email service, discounts on auto, home, health and life insurance, etc.
- Artwork of the College of Fine Arts alumni is found in the Museum of Modern Art (New York), Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles), Tate Modern (London) and Centre George Pompidou (Paris) among several other remarkable places.
- The Miller Institute of Contemporary Arts is home to nearly 3,600 artists and producers.
- The School of Music alumni are part of some of the most renowned orchestras in the world such as Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Prague Philharmonia, Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, etc.
- The alumni of BXA Intercollege degree programs are Henry Luce, Rhodes, National Science Foundation and German Chancellor.
- Some notable alumni of the College of Fine Arts are:
- Messay Darabe: Co-founder and CEO of goARTful
- Roger Fortune: Vice President, The Stahl Organization, New York, NY
- Ricky Ian Gordon: Award-winning composer/pianist
- Avneet Gujral: On the Board of Directors of the Market Leadership Advisory Board for the U.S. Green Building Council's National Capital Region
- Charles Johnson: Global director of Innovation at Puma
College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University Placements
60% of the class of 2020 graduates were either employed or in graduate school. The average salary of College of Fine Arts graduates was 71,160 USD.
- Recent employers include Strada, Nike, Duolingo, Apple, Amazon Web Services, Facebook, Goldman Sachs, Walt Disney World, etc.
- Students of the Arts and Entertainment Management department have over 100 internship and job partners such as SONY Music, Warner Brothers, Kennedy Center, Steppenwolf Theatre, American Alliance of Museums among others.
- Students also get opportunities to attend over 12 conferences annually such as the Southwest, Sundance Film Festivals, American Alliance of Museums, Association of Performing Arts Presenters, etc.
The table below represents the placement rate and average salaries of students enrolled in various schools of the College of Fine Arts:
| School | Placement Rate | Average Salary (in USD) |
|---|---|---|
| School of Architecture | 52% | 70,200 |
| School of Art | 78% | 66,958 |
| School of Design | 56% | 86,571 |
| School of Drama | 80% | 41,927 |
The College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University has a longstanding history of developing young artists who lead successful careers in their fields. The university is home to prominent award winners, artists, producers and hosts designers, guest artists and cultural figures. It is one of the top choices of international students studying in the U.S. to fulfill artistic pursuits.
FAQs
Ques. Is Carnegie Mellon University a good school for Fine Arts?
Ans. Carnegie Mellon University ranked #7 in Best Fine Arts Programs in the U.S. News and World Report 2021.
Ques. Does Carnegie Mellon University have a conservatory program?
Ans. The BFA in Drama program offered by the School of Drama at Carnegie Mellon University is a conservatory training program.
Ques. Is a portfolio required for admission to College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University?
Ans. Yes, a portfolio is required for admission to most programs offered by the College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University.
Ques. Does Carnegie Mellon University have a music program?
Ans. Yes, Carnegie Mellon University has a School of Music that offers programs in Music.
Ques. How much is the tuition for international students at College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University?
Ans. The tuition for undergraduate international students at College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University is 57,560 USD. The graduate tuition fee varies from department to department ranging between 35,240-42,000 USD.
Ques. Are there financial aid opportunities for international students at College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University?
Ans. Most financial aid at College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University are awarded on the basis of FAFSA. There are no financial aid opportunities for international undergraduate students at College of Fine Arts. Limited departmental scholarships may be available to international graduate students at the time of admission.
Ques. How can you get into the College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University?
Ans. To get into the College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University students have to undergo additional steps such as pre-screening, portfolio review, auditions, interviews, etc. which is the primary basis for admission consideration.
Ques. How many students audition for the Musical Theatre program at Carnegie Mellon University?
Ans. The Musical Theatre program at Carnegie Mellon University is a highly competitive program which auditions more than 3,000 students and accepts only 3% of the applicants.
Ques. Is it hard to get into Carnegie Mellon University?
Ans. Carnegie Mellon University has a very selective admission policy with an acceptance rate of only 17% in fall 2020 undergraduate admission.
Ques. What is the College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University known for?
Ans. The College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University is known for producing nationally and internationally recognized professionals through its 5 schools of Architecture, Art, Design, Drama and Music.
