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.
Online Applications are always open, with rolling admission cycles
Deadline for Spring 2026
Application Deadline:
December 1, 2025
December 15, 2025
Spring 2026
Application Deadline:
December 1, 2025
Enrolled Deadline:
December 15, 2025
classes start:
mid-January
Certificates being offered:
Methods & Tools for Product Innovation
New Product Management
Summer 2026
Application Deadline:
April 1, 2026
Enrolled Deadline:
April 15, 2026
classes start:
mid-May
Certificates being offered:
Technology for Product Management
Product Design Innovation
Fall 2026
July 15, 2026
August 1, 2026
late-August
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
Work Experience
Your Program. Your Pace.
Complete the MIIPS online degree in as quickly as five semesters or extend up to nine semesters. You determine the pace and may change it during your studies — speeding up or slowing down when you need to.
Traditional Degree Process
- 21 months or 5 semesters with no breaks
- 1 certificate per semester
- 20 hours per week
- Traditional Degree Sample Curriculum Plan
Accelerated Degree Process
- 12 months or 3 semesters with no breaks
*students should start in the spring or summer semester - 2 certificates per semester
- 40 hours per week
- Accelerated Degree Sample Curriculum Plan
Extended Degree PROCESS
- 36 months or 9 semesters
- 1 module (1/2 certificate) per semester
- 10 hours per week
- Extended Degree Sample Curriculum Plan
Seth Mitchell
(MIIPS Online '26)
Seth is currently a UI Lead at GM. He began his career in visual merchandising at Apple, where he developed a strong foundation in design and user experience. He holds a BFA in Graphic Design from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is also the founder of The Blocks, a fintech startup focused on creating accessible, user-friendly personal finance tools.
He's currently pursuing the MIIPS Masters degree and plans to graduate May 2026.
Hedy Wang
(MIIPS Online '25)
Hedy is currently a UX Research Consultant at IBM. She has experience working on user research, design strategy, and product innovation across various industries.
She's currently pursuing the MIIPS Master's degree and plans to graduate in Dec 2025.
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: 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.
Tuition Rates: 2025-2026
|
Program |
Tuition |
|
iii Online Certificate (20 units) |
$12,157 |
|
Per Course Tuition |
$6,078 |
|
Online MIIPS Degree (102 units) 4 certificates + Capstone Course |
$62,000* |
2025-26 Student Fees: $240 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 2026-2027 academic year will be released in Spring 2026.
- 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 is eligible for federal financial aid loans.
More information is available here:
- CMUiii has produced a Scholarship and Funding Resource Document with various external funding options. This is a living document, meaning it will likely be updated and changed periodically. Hopefully, this resource will help you get started as you explore ways to fund your graduate school education.
- The Student Financial Services' page on the Graduate Financial Aid Process
- The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs page on Financial Assistance
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.
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
Step 2: Upload Your Unofficial Transcripts
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
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. 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"
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 two 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
Step 7: Complete Video Essay
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
An Online Student's Perspective
Julie Wagner (MIIPS Online ’24) illustrates how she applied her classroom learnings directly into entrepreneurship, founding a company inspired by a class project.
Marciano Bagnoli (MIIPS Online ’23), shares how stacking certificates to obtain a master’s degree allowed him to experiment with a career change before fully committing to a new industry.
iii Online student, Menelik Lewis, shares his experience in the program.