Admissions FAQs

When can I apply?

Our application for admission opens September 1 for the following calendar year (for example, September 1, 2024 for the January, May, and August 2025 intakes). If you would like to ensure you are notified when our application opens, we encourage you to submit our Application Request for Information form.

I am currently pursuing my bachelor's degree. Can I still apply by the "priority" deadline?

Applicants who are currently pursuing their bachelor's degree are encouraged to apply by the regular deadline (January 10) so your fall (or seventh) semester grades are included on your official transcript/evaluation report.

What do I need to submit for admissions consideration?

Required application materials vary by program and applicant type (domestic or international).

In general, to apply for admission to our Master’s programs, prospective students are required to submit an online application form, undergraduate transcripts, their professional resume, two recommendations, and an essay.

What is the application fee? Is it possible to get an application fee waiver?

There is no application fee to apply to Heinz College.

Can I apply to more than one program?

We strongly recommend applicants apply to one program. Students interested in more than one of our programs are encouraged to apply to their top choice and can indicate their interest in a second program at Heinz within their “Optional” essay within their application.

Am I allowed to use ChatGPT or other AI tools to structure my essay and improve language?

Carnegie Mellon has always been a first mover in the AI space and remains deeply engaged in shaping the future of AI technologies and their uses. As we continue to learn about these tools and lean into their opportunities, we also want to address their challenges.

Carnegie Mellon wants to know applicants as individuals, and submitting genuine, authentic application materials can make a significant difference. AI should never replace your unique voice, experiences and personal expression.

Your essay should contain only true information and your own, original content. You should not use artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, to write any portion of your essay. If you include a quote or text written by any other person or published in any printed or online format, you must surround the copied text in quotation marks (") and indicate the original source of the text. Information reported on your résumé is subject to verification. Heinz College's Office of Admissions utilizes several methods to identify plagiarized, AI-generated, and falsified content in uploaded documents. Submission of false, plagiarized or AI-generated material as part of the application for admission may result in automatic denial of admission to any degree program.

Can I still apply if I missed the application deadline?

We do accept late applications to our master’s programs. However, we review all applications that were received by our deadline first, and we cannot guarantee that there will be space left in the program after our initial round of application review has been completed. Please submit your application online and be sure all supporting materials are in transit to us by the application deadline to have the best chance for admission and scholarship/ fellowship support.

We do not accept applications after the deadline for the Ph.D. programs.

Can I defer my admission?

We strongly encourage applicants to apply for entry for the year (for full-time) or semester (for part-time) in which they intend to enroll. Deferrals are not common and are considered on a case-by-case basis for one academic year only. Typically, deferrals are granted for military/volunteer public service or opportunities with one of our partner organizations.

Online Application

Technical issues with the application?

If you are having technical issues with the application, please contact the Heinz College Office of Admissions.

What is my current application status?

You can find the latest, most up-to-date information on your application status via your online portal.

Can I apply to two different programs or two different tracks within the same program?

Contact the Office of Admissions before starting a second application for CMU's Heinz College in the same year. Our admissions process tends to favor students who have clear goals for their graduate study. Submitting more than one application in the same year may serve to reduce the strength of both applications.

If you are interested in more than one program of study, we encourage you to apply to your first choice program (or pathway). In your application, you may mention alternate programs/pathways that interest you in an optional essay. Note: If an applicant is not admitted to the program/pathway to which they applied, they may automatically be considered for alternate programs/pathways that are a better fit at Heinz College - even if the applicant did not mention alternate interests in the optional essay.

Can you review my application if some of my materials arrive late?

We will not be able to review your application until all materials are received and processed. Please be sure to submit all required materials as described in the online application instructions.

GRE/GMAT

Are GRE/GMAT scores required in order to apply for admission to graduate programs at Heinz College?

The GRE/GMAT is required for admission to most of the master's and Ph.D. programs offered by Heinz College. Each program, however, has its own policy. In some cases, applicants may be able to qualify for a waiver of the test score requirement and apply without test scores. Please select your program of interest from the list below to learn more about your program's GRE/GMAT testing policy:

What are Heinz College’s GRE codes?

The institution code is 3085. Please select any department code for the department. Heinz College will be able to access the GRE codes from any listed department codes.

I sent my GRE score to the previous GRE code. Do I need to resend the scores?

If you already sent GRE scores to the “main” Carnegie Mellon University code (2074 Carnegie Mellon U – any department) they will still be verified – you do not need to submit another score to the 3085 code. Scores sent to the 3085 Carnegie Mellon U Heinz Coll code may be processed more quickly.

How old can GRE test scores be?

We will accept test scores that are up to five years old at the time of application. If you are coming up on the five year mark, please send us the score report as soon as possible. ETS will not verify test scores beyond the five year mark.

Can I take the GRE/GMAT after the application deadline?

On the application, enter your upcoming test date and registration number (if available) in lieu of your scores. Be sure to still submit your application prior to the posted deadline.

Please also ask the testing service to report your official scores to us electronically after you complete the exam to ensure the quickest verification possible.

Did you receive my test scores?

You can find the latest, most up-to-date information on your application status via your online portal.

Recommendations

Can I change a recommender?

Yes – you may update your recommender(s) using the “Recommenders” page of the online application for any recommender to exclude any recommender and add someone else in their place.

If you you have already submitted your online application, you may re-notify any of your recommenders by logging into your application status page. Follow the instructions just below your checklist to resend notification emails to your recommenders - you can also exclude recommenders from this page. Note that if you exclude any recommenders, they will not be counted towards the requirement of having at least 2 recommendations submitted in support of your application.

If the recommender has concerns about what they submitted, please ask that person to contact the Admissions Office (hnzadmit@andrew.cmu.edu) directly.

Should I waive my right to view my recommendations?

This is entirely your decision, although some recommenders may have a preference on how you respond. Heinz College has no preference regarding your response.

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), students have access to their education record, including letters of recommendation submitted for their application. However, students may waive their right to see letters of evaluation, in which case the letters will be held in confidence. The way that you respond to the "FERPA Waiver" question will not impact your chances for admission in any way.

Can I change how I answered the recommendation "waiver" question for one or more of my recommenders? Can you change my response for me?

You cannot change your response to the question about waiving your right to access a recommendation after you have registered a recommender in our application system. We cannot change your response for you.

The way that you responded to the "FERPA Waiver" question will not harm your chances for admission in any way. It is the right of every applicant to retain – or waive – their rights to view their recommendation letters as part of their student record if they are admitted and later enroll at CMU’s Heinz College.

TOEFL/IELTS

Do I need to take the TOEFL exam?

If your native language (mother tongue) is not English, you are required to submit an official score report from TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo. The only exceptions are for:

applicants who have worked or studied for five or more years in Australia, Botswana, Canada, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, and/or Zambia.
applicants who studied for 4 years of their undergrad education in the United States and earned their bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited US school (students are encouraged to provide unofficial copies of the English Language Proficiency exam they used when they applied to their undergraduate institution as part of their application to Heinz College).

The Admissions Committee requires all applicants to score at or above the posted minimums for the TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo. If your score falls below the posted minimum TOELF/IELTS/Duolingo score, we strongly encourage you to retake the exam.

Can I submit scores from multiple TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo exams?

You may submit scores from up to 4 valid TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo exam dates. Heinz College will use the highest score verified in each section if you have taken the exam more than one time. For every score you want to include with your application, you must report the exam date(s) and submit the official score report(s). We will not accept exam scores for test dates that are not listed on the application. If you took any of these tests more than two years ago, you MUST take it again. The testing agency will not verify scores more than two years old.

For my undergraduate degree, I attended an institution located in the U.S. for less than four years, but I earned by bachelor’s degree from a school in the U.S. Can the TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo requirement be waived for me?

Per our posted TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo policy, earning a previous degree at an institution where English is the main language of instruction does not qualify an applicant for a waiver of this requirement unless that student spent 4 or more years in the United States earning their degree.

If you submitted TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo results when you applied to your undergraduate university, we would accept those scores as official if sent to us directly from an administrator at your school.

For more information on how to submit those scores, please contact the Admissions Office (hnzadmit@andrew.cmu.edu) directly.

How do I submit my Duolingo scores?

There is not a code for Duolingo. You must send your Duolingo scores directly to “Carnegie Mellon University – Heinz College of Information Systems & Public Policy” from Duolingo.

What is Heinz’s TOEFL code? / I’m using the 2176 TOEFL code but TOEFL has this code listed as the Undergraduate Department.

The institution code is 2176. Please disregard any department label (including “Undergraduate”) that may be associated with that institution code.

I sent my TOEFL scores to the CMU general code (2074). Do I need to resend the scores?

Heinz College is able to verify TOEFL scores sent to the “main” CMU code (2074), so you do not need to pay for another score report. However, scores sent to 2176 may be verified more quickly.

How old can TOEFL test scores be?

We will accept test scores that are up to two years old at the time of application. If you are coming up on the two year mark, please send us the score report as soon as possible. ETS will not verify test scores beyond the two year mark.

Did you receive my test scores?

You can find the latest, most up-to-date information on your application status via your online portal.

Transcripts

You will find a majority the answers to your transcript-related questions on the Transcripts page. Below are some additional, frequently asked questions.

How can I submit my transcript?

For instructions on how to submit your transcripts, please click on the applicable program below:

Is my GPA score good enough for admission?

Heinz College does not have a required minimum GPA. The average and median GPA for applicants admitted to each of our programs, along with additional demographic information, are available on each program page.

The Admissions Committee completes a holistic review of each application and considers every factor including, but not limited to, transcripts, test scores, recommendations, personal statement, and career goals, when making their decision.

Do you require undergraduate transcripts be submitted via a third-party evaluation?

For more information on transcript evaluation requirements, please click on the applicable program below:

My institution provides English-version copies of my transcript. Do I still need to go through a transcript verification service?

We require that all international academic documents for applicants to our master's programs (except Master of Medical Management) be verified by a transcript evaluation service. The evaluation report not only provides courses in English and grades on the U.S. scale, but it also provides services to our committee members should they have questions regarding the transcript.

The above stated transcript evaluation policy does not apply to applicants to our Ph.D. programs. Please CLICK HERE for the Ph.D. transcript policy.

Admissions FAQs

See responses to frequently asked questions about the admissions process below