Carnegie Mellon University

Integrated Innovation Institute

Engineering + Design + Business

Carnegie Mellon University Integrated Innovation Institute Logo

Admissions: Master of Integrated Innovation for Products & Services

students participating in a class activity

Innovation is driven by people, not products.

The Master of Integrated Innovation for Products & Services (MIIPS) degree trains the next generation of innovators, design thinkers, disruptors, and world changers.

In the MIIPS program, students learn to tackle industry and society’s most significant challenges in a world that increasingly merges technology with humanity.

tbd

admissions applicatio icon  Applications for Fall 2025

To be considered, you must submit an online application and all supplemental materials before the deadline:

Programs:

MIIPS
9-Month Degree

MIIPS Advanced Study
16-Month Degree
          

MIIPS Applications Open:
Now

Start-Term:
Fall 2025

MIIPS Application Deadlines:
January 20, 2025

          application deadline

Admissions Toolkit:
Learn How to Apply

       admissions toolkit

Am I a Good Fit for the MIIPS Program?

Highly qualified candidates are passionate about product & service development, innovation, or entrepreneurship.

They are comfortable with ambiguity, want to collaborate with individuals outside their discipline, and learn best in a hands-on environment.

Additionally, they will have the following academic and professional experience:

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

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).

Applicants with less than five years of experience or applicants who are seeking to pivot careers should consider applying to our MIIPS Advanced Study degree, which includes a summer internship experience.

Applicants with more work experience are encouraged to apply to the MIIPS degree, a 9-month degree, and more accelerated format.

Fall Semester 1

Integrated Product Development
Full Semester Course
How Things Can Be Made
Full Semester Course
Mastering Collaborative Strategies and Business Environments
Full Semester Course
Figure it Out: Your Professional Identity and Story
Full Semester Course
iii Seminar Series
Full Semester Course
User Research: Theory, Methods, Practice
Half Semester Course
Visual Communication for Innovators
Half Semester Course
People First: A Critical Look at Collaboration
Half Semester Course
It Depends: An Inquiry into Innovative Thinking
Half Semester Course
Elective Courses
Students have the ability to select two 6-unit electives or one 12-unit elective*

Spring Semester 1

Integrated Product Development Capstone
Full Semester Course
AI and IoT for the Real World
Full Semester Course
iii Seminar Series
Full Semester Course
Managing Products and Brands
Half Semester Course 
Creative Leadership
Half Semester Course 
Elective Courses
Students have the ability to select two 6-unit electives or one 12-unit elective*

*Students may select graduate level electives from across the university. Examples of departments students select electives from include Tepper School of Business, College of Fine Arts, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy and the Human Computer Interaction Institute. Students are encouraged to review the schedule of classes each semester when considering elective options.

Fall Semester 1

How Things Can Be Made
Full Semester Course
Mastering Collaborative Strategies and Business Environments
Full Semester Course
Figure it Out: Your Professional Identity and Story
Full Semester Course
iii Seminar Series
Full Semester Course
User Research: Theory, Methods, Practice
Half Semester Course
Visual Communication for Innovators
Half Semester Course 
People First: A Critical Look at Collaboration
Half Semester Course
It Depends: An Inquiry into Innovative Thinking
Half Semester Course
Elective Courses
Students have the ability to select two 6-unit electives or one 12-unit elective*

Spring Semester 1

Integrated Product Development Capstone
Full Semester Course
AI and IoT for the Real World
Full Semester Course
iii Seminar Series
Full Semester Course
Managing Products and Brands
Half Semester Course
Creative Leadership
Half Semester Course

Elective Courses
Students have the ability to select two 6-unit electives or one 12-unit elective*

Summer Semester 1

Internship
Full Semester Course

Fall Semester 2

Innovation Mindset in Practice
Full Semester Course
Elective Courses
Students have the ability to choose between 24 - 36 units of electives*

*Students may select graduate level electives from across the university. Examples of departments students select electives from include Tepper School of Business, College of Fine Arts, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy and the Human Computer Interaction Institute. Students are encouraged to review the schedule of classes each semester when considering elective options.

Connect with Current MIIPS Students

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

headshot jahnavi patel

Jahnavi
Patel

(MIIPS '25)

Chat with Jahnavi

Jahnavi has a bachelor’s degree from Srishti Institute of Art where she studied Industrial Design. Jahnavi is deeply passionate about exploring the climate landscape and developing solutions that drive trends towards a sustainable future. Jahnavi most recently worked at Ather Energy as a Digital Product Designer.


nidhisha voonna admissions headshot

Nidhisha
Voonna

(MIIPS '25)

Chat with Nidhisha

Nidhisha has a bachelor’s degree in Production Engineering from Pune University. Nidhisha is passionate about bringing product-based, innovative solutions to real-world problems in an entrepreneurial way. Nidhisha most recently worked at Pinelabs (A FinTech company) as a Strategic Partnerships Manager.


rishi hiremath headshot

Rishi
Hiremath

(MIIPS '24)

Chat with Rishi

Rishi has a bachelor’s degree from MIT Institute of Design. Rishi is an innovator who is passionate about smart home products, personal mobility solutions, and design for accessibility. Rishi most recently worked at Deloitte Digital as a User Experience Designer.


headshot of yimika osunsanya

Yimika
Osunsanya

(MIIPS '24)

Chat with Yimika

Yimika has a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Cornell University. She most recently worked at Ennead Architects as a Designer. Yimika is an innovator who is passionate about experience design and research and working on interdisciplinary teams.


headshot of guadalajara marcelo decrescenzo_800x800.jpg

Marcelo Decrescenzo
Guadalajara

(MIIPS '24)

Chat with Marcelo

Marcelo most recently worked at Home Depot Mexico as a Replenishment Specialist in Supply Chain. He is passionate about the automotive industry, innovation R&D, and process engineering- manufacturing. In the future, Marcelo wants to be a Product Manager in the manufacturing industry. 

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition Rates: 2024-2025

Program

Tuition

MIIPS $57,436
MIIPS Advanced Study

$88,546*

3 Academic Terms: $86,153

Summer 2025 Term: $2,393

MIIPS Part-Time $598 per unit

*Estimated tuition for the Fall 2025 semester. The official rate for the 2025-2026 academic year will be released in Spring 2025.

For more information, visit
CMU's Student Financial Services' website.

Financial Aid Information

As self-funded master's programs, all enrolled students or their employers are responsible for paying full tuition and expenses. For more on tuition and other fees assessed by the university, please visit CMU's HUB website.

We encourage prospective students to independently seek outside scholarships and grants, including through the following resources here at Carnegie Mellon University:

Please note that because of the professional and practical nature of our programs, CMUiii does not offer teaching or research assistantships.

admissions toolkit icon  Your Admissions Toolkit

Ready to apply?

Please carefully review the admissions deadlines and requirements.

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.

In the system, you will be prompted to pay a non-refundable fee of $75 by either credit card or debit card.

MIIPS degree applications are required to upload their most recent professional resume or curriculum vitae. 

Your two references can be professional and/or academic. Each reference will automatically be emailed a link to submit a letter of recommendation directly to our online system. 

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

The video platform gives our admissions committee the opportunity to learn more about you beyond the written materials you have provided. You must answer one question; the questions are randomized and not something you should prepare for.

Unofficial transcripts are sufficient to render an admission decision. The average GPA of our accepted applicants is 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. 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.

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).

All international and United States permanent resident applicants must take an English language proficiency exam. This is required as a component in determining academic success in the program and to support visa applications for admitted students studying on an F1 visa. The scores must be received by the application deadline for the semester in which students are applying. An English language proficiency test is not required if the applicant will have graduated from a US university by the time of enrollment or if the applicant is a CMU student or alum. It is also not required for applicants with United Kingdom, Canadian, or Australian citizenship. The following forms of English language proficiency assessments are accepted:

TOEFL – minimum score 95 with no sub-score below a 23

Institution Code: 2074

Department Code: 99 (Other)

IELTS – minimum score of 6.5

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 – minimum score of 105

Select "CMU – College of Engineering"

GRE or GMAT: The GRE/GMAT is optional for CMUiii applications. For those who have not taken the GRE, the weight of components considered in the review process will be redistributed among all submitted materials.

In short - YES, the GRE is really optional. If you have taken the GRE, you are encouraged to add strong scores to support your application. The average scores of our accepted applicants for the GRE are Quantitative: 159, Verbal: 155, and Analytical Writing: 3.5. The average score for GMAT is 600.

Please send your scores directly from ETS or GMAT using the following codes: 

GRE

Institution Code: 2074
Department Code: 1699 (Engineering – Other)

GMAT
You can only send iii: GMAT scores by mail. Send directly to Integrated Innovation Institute's Pittsburgh address. When sending, use the following code: 69H-J7-31. 

To check the status of your online application, please log in to your account on our online application system. You may also email us at admissions-iii@cmu.edu for more information.

Admissions decisions will be posted, and you will be notified by email as soon as the committee concludes its review; typically 4-6 weeks after the close of the application deadline.

Stories from MIIPS

Aman Sinha (MIIPS '23) reflects on how the Master of Integrated Innovation in Product and Services (MIIPS) program equipped him with the skills and perspectives needed to excel in the real world.

 

Check out a behind-the-scenes look at the day in the life of Krutin Kanumuri, a strategic product planning intern at Volvo!

 

Elvin Peprah (MIIPS '17) shares how MIIPS enhanced his problem-solving skills, integrated his passion for engineering and product design, and gave him the confidence to bring design thinking directly to schools.