Carnegie Mellon University

College and university rankings continue to proliferate, but their value to individuals and to the institutions remains a subject of some debate. Some rankings are designed purely for entertainment, little more than internet photo galleries. Others make a more serious effort at collecting information.

Even where rankings do collect objective statistics such as test scores or costs, the choice of which factors to include in a ranking, and how those factors are weighted, remains subjective. The effects of those methodologies, and the reasons for those choices, are not always readily apparent.

For prospective students, families, potential staff and faculty who are deciding whether to invest time and resources in an institution, it is essential that you decide what factors are important to your success and the outcomes you seek. Those will include some objective information, which you can find on the pages of the Carnegie Mellon University website, or on sites for which CMU provides information, such as IPEDS College Navigator or collegedata.com. Your decision should also take into account your own assessment about programs, culture and opportunities for growth.

U.S. News & World Report

Best National University: #24
     Best Undergraduate Computer Science: #2
     Best Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects: #2
     Most Innovative Universities: #4
     Senior Capstone: #8

Undergraduate Computer Science: #2
     Artificial Intelligence: #1
     Cybersecurity: #1
     Software Engineering: #1
     Mobile/Web Applications: #1
     Computer Systems: #2
     Game/Simulation Development: #2
     Programming Languages: #2
     Theory: #2
     Biocomputing/Bioinformatics/Biotechnology: #3
     Data Analytics/Science: #3

Undergraduate Business: #7
     Management Information Systems: #1
     Quantitative Analysis/Methods: #2
     Business Analytics: #2
     Production/Operations Management: #5
     Finance: #9

Undergraduate Engineering: #8
     Computer Engineering: #1
     Electrical/Electronic/Communications: #6
     Environmental/Environmental Health: #7 
     Mechanical Engineering: #9
     Civil Engineering: #10

Ranked September 2023

PayScale Best Value Colleges

Best Value Colleges: #26
     Among Colleges in Pennsylvania: #2
     Among Research Colleges: #13

Ranked 2023

The Hollywood Reporter

World's Top Drama Schools: #7

Ranked 2023

Top 10 Costume Design Schools in the U.S.

Listed 2023

Backstage

Top Acting Colleges in the U.S.

Listed 2023

U.S. News & World Report

Business: #18
     Part-time MBA: #9
     Information Systems: #1
     Production/Operations: #2
     Business Analytics: #2
     Project Management: #3 
     Supply Chain/Logistics: #6

Engineering: #5
     Computer Engineering: #4
     Environmental/Environmental Health: #8
     Electrical/Electronic/Communications: #9
     Civil Engineering: #9
     Mechanical Engineering: #11
     Materials Engineering: #12

Computer Science: #4
     Programming Language: #1
     Artificial Intelligence: #1
     Systems: #2
     Theory: #4

Mathematics: #20
     Discrete Mathematics: #3
     Applied Mathematics: #10

Public Affairs: #19
     Information and Technology Management: #1
     Public Policy Analysis: #8
     Urban Policy: #10
     Environmental Policy and Management: #12

Physics: #28

Ranked 2023

Bloomberg Businessweek

Best Business Schools: #18

Ranked 2023

Times Higher Education

World University Rankings: #24
     Computer Science: #4
     Engineering and Technology: #21
     Psychology: #27
     Business and Economics: #32
     Physics, Chemistry and Math: #56
     Social Sciences: #60

U.S. University Rankings: #15

Ranked 2023

QS World University Rankings

Top Global Universities: #52

Ranked 2023 

Academic Ranking of World Universities

Top World Universities: #101-150
     Computer Science and Engineering: #4
     Electrical and Electronic Engineering: #11
     Statistics: #13
     Library and Information Science: #19
     Economics: #51-75
     Mechanical Engineering: #51-75
     Chemistry: #76-100
     Materials Science and Engineering: #76-100
     Psychology: #76-100

Ranked by Shanghai Jiao Tong University 2023

Princeton Review

Best 388 Colleges

Listed 2023

Forbes

America's Top Colleges: #59
     Among Private Colleges: #38
     Among Research Universities: #47

Ranked 2023

Environmental Protection Agency

Green Power Partnership Top 30 Colleges and Universities: #11

Ranked 2023

Animation Career Review

Top U.S. Game Design Schools: #2

Ranked 2023

Top U.S. Graphic Design Schools: #14

Ranked 2023

Top U.S. Animation Schools: #18

Ranked 2023