Integrated Innovation Institute › Admissions › Online Degree & Certificates

Admissions: Online Degree & Certificates

World-class education, wherever you are.

Designed with the working professional in mind, our online programs offer a flexible learning structure that allows you to go to school and continue to work full time.

The stackable online certificates are offered on a rotational schedule, while students can start the MIIPS Online degree every semester.

Getting started is easy— complete your application in minutes and receive an admissions decision in days.

Applications Are Always Open

Summer 2024

application deadline: April 1st

enrolled deadline: April 15th

class start: mid-May

Certificates being offered:

Fall 2024

application deadline: July 15th

enrolled deadline: August 1st

class start: late-August

Certificates being offered:

Spring 2025

application deadline: December 1st
enrolled deadline: December 15th
class start: mid-January

Certificates being offered:

*Subject to Change. Final certificate schedules will be released prior to each application cycle.

Am I a Good Fit?

Highly qualified candidates demonstrate a passion for product & service development, innovation, or entrepreneurship.

They are comfortable with ambiguity, want to collaborate with individuals outside of their discipline, learn best in a "learn-by-doing" environment, and wish to continue their education in a flexible, online environment.

Academic Experience

Engineering (all types)
Design (including fine arts, architecture, UX/UI & HCI)
Business (including economics)
Communications
Psychology

The ideal candidate will hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or equivalent from an accredited institution (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc., Higher Learning Commission, or U.S. Dept. of Education).

Work Experience

Online program applicants typically have eight to ten years of professional experience, however, that is an average and not a requirement for application.

Connect with Current Online Students

Learn firsthand what makes our Online Program unique, challenging, and life-changing by speaking with a student.

Kyle Caruso

Chat with Kyle

Kyle Caruso has had a significant role in the world of startups and innovation. Kyle has 10+ years of working with startups in various roles -- including innovations at MIT, Vanderbilt, and West Liberty University.

In his current role, Kyle is a course instructor for entrepreneurship programming at Vanderbilt University while expanding his expertise as a graduate student in the MIIPS Online Program at Carnegie Mellon University. In his spare time, Kyle enjoys traveling, music, anime, and sports.

Nikki Kumar

Chat with Nikki

Nikki Kumar is a Product Manager in Northern Virginia with a background in mental health and Fintech. She is enthusiastic about the potential of impactful technologies to drive positive societal change.

Beyond Nikki's professional interests, she's deeply passionate about mental health. Nikki loves exploring different languages and cultures. As a community ambassador, she aims to leverage her experience in the MIIPS program to support and contribute to others.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Athena Huether, Head of Graduate Enrollment & Associate Director of Admissions at the iii, answers frequently asked questions about the iii's online certificate programs and MIIPS online degree in this video playlist.

For additional information, visit the FAQ page.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition Rates: 2023-2024

Program

Tuition

iii Online Certificate (20 units)

$11,059

Online MIIPS Degree (102 units)

4 certificates + Capstone Course

$56,400

2023-24 Student Fees: $230 per semester

Tuition Rates: 2024-2025

Program	Tuition
iii Online Certificate (20 units)	$11,600
Per Course Tuition	$5,800
Online MIIPS Degree (102 units) 4 certificates + Capstone Course	$59,136*

2024-25 Student Fees: $235 per semester (technology fee)

*Indicates the estimated total tuition. Actual cost will vary as degree-seeking students should plan to complete the program in 2 or more academic years.
Official rate for the 2025-2026 academic year will be released in Spring 2025.
All students are billed per unit rate, regardless of the degree progress status.

Student Fees

All CMU students are charged a Technology Fee per semester. Learn more about CMU Student Fees.

Financial Resources

Self Funding & Payment Options

Students enrolled in professional programs at CMU are primarily self-funded. The MIIPS Online Degree and iii Online Certificate programs are not eligible for federal financial aid loans.

Explore private loan options and payment plans on the Student Financial Services website.

Review the College of Engineering's section on Financial Support, which includes details on how to find alternative external funding.

Part-time students could consider Employer Tuition Benefits to help cover their costs. Check out Abound.college for more resources to start a conversation with your employer.

Student Consumer Information

Carnegie Mellon University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Visit CMU's Consumer Information page for more about the University's accreditation and state authorizations.

Your Admissions Toolkit

Ready to apply?

Applicants are highly encouraged to only submit one application per cycle. If you would like to change your application format after starting, please contact the Admissions Team, admissions-iii@cmu.edu.

Connect directly with admissions.

Certificate Applications

Apply for an individual, stackable certificate in three easy steps:

Step 1: Create An Online Account

To get started, create an account in our online application system via Carnegie Mellon's College of Engineering. Once you've created your account, the system will email you a PIN. This PIN and your password allow you to save your application over several sessions. You can also log in to monitor the status of your application and view your admissions decision.

Step 2: Upload Your Unofficial Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts are sufficient to render an admission decision. A bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required.

Official transcripts will be requested upon enrollment, which may be submitted in the following ways:

Mailing directly to the Integrated Innovation Institute's Pittsburgh address.
Sending electronically via an official parchment service (e.g. Parchment.com). When using these services, please send them to admissions-iii@cmu.edu.
Via a credential evaluation service - Required for certain transcripts*

Step 3: Add Your TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo Score

Applicants whose native language (mother tongue) is not English must provide a valid English proficiency score including TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores. We require a minimum score of 95 for IBT on the TOEFL (with no sub-score below a 23), and a minimum score of 6.5 for IELTS, and a minimum score of 105 on DuoLingo.

TOEFL

Institution Code: 2074
Department Code: 99 (Other)

IELTS

We accept electronic IELTS scores only, using the physical address to confirm the right college/department.

Please contact your IELTS testing center and request that your scores be sent to:

Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering
431 Hamerschlag Drive
ANSYS Hall Suite 250
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
United States

Duolingo English Test

Select "CMU – College of Engineering"

Waiver: You may petition for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver if you have completed an undergraduate degree in the U.S. or if you are applying to the part-time program and have previous English-language work experience. For more information, please email us.

MIIPS Online Degree Applications

In addition to steps 1 through 2 above, complete the following:

Step 4: Upload Your Resume/CV

When applying for the MIIPS Online degree, please include your most recent professional resume or curriculum vitae.

Step 5: Upload Letters of Recommendation

When applying for the MIIPS Online degree, please include three professional and/or academic references. Each reference will automatically be emailed a link to submit a letter of recommendation directly to our online system.

Step 6: Complete Short Essay Responses

Rather than a Statement of Purpose, we require written responses to our short essay prompts within the application itself.

Step 7: Complete Video Essay

When applying for the MIIPS Online degree, the video platform gives our admissions committee the opportunity to learn more about you beyond the written materials you have provided. You are required to answer one question; the questions are randomized and are not something that you should prepare for.

Step 8: Portfolio

When applying for the MIIPS Online degree, the portfolio is an opportunity to tell us your story. Showcase three to six projects that best illustrate your skills, talents, and interests. Your examples should speak to your problem-solving abilities, visualization skills, and overall level of craftsmanship. In each project, please briefly describe and summarize your contributions.

We accept photographs, drawings, or interactive presentations. Please submit your portfolio as a PDF to our online application system (Max: 20 pages).

Want pointers on how to approach the portfolio? Kyle Caruso, a current MIIPS online student, shares his tips:

Step 9: Online Application Fee

After you create an online account in our system, you will be prompted to pay a non-refundable fee of $75 by either credit card or debit card.

An Online Student's Perspective

Employer tuition reimbursement is often an underutilized perk. Kyle details how he is leveraging his employer's plan to pay for his online degree.

Wondering what the application is really like? Hear from Kyle about how long it took him to complete the application and how quickly he got his decision back from admissions.

Does the thought of creating a portfolio have you stressed out? Kyle shares how he approached the portfolio process and gives his tips for creating your own.

Hear More from Kyle