Ready to apply? Here’s what you’ll need to complete the admissions process: 

✔ Complete the Online Application
Submit your application in the application portal.

✔ Submit your resume/CV
We’d like to learn more about your employment history, academic background, technical skills and professional achievements. Submit a 1 to 2 page resume or CV showcasing your experience. 

✔ Submit your transcripts
Submit an unofficial copy of your transcript for each school you attended. Transcripts must include your name, the name of the college or university, the degree awarded (along with the conferral date), as well as the grade earned for each course. Email your transcripts directly to apply@online.cmu.edu. Please note: former Carnegie Mellon students and/or alumni can request a copy of their CMU transcript from The Hub.

✔  Upload a statement of purpose
Tell us your professional story. Where have you been and where do you hope to go? In 500 words or less, explain your objective for applying to this program and what you hope to gain from completing the coursework.

✔  Submit your TOEFL, IELTS, or DuoLingo test scores (if applicable)
An official TOEFL, IELTS or DuoLingo test is required for non-native english speakers.  We would prefer the assessment be no more than two years old but will consider older tests if a copy of the results can be provided.  However, the language exam requirement will be waived for applicants who have at least two years of professional work experience using English as their primary language. 

By enrolling in our graduate-level program, you'll be investing in your professional growth to broaden the scope of your career. We know this is a significant investment. Not just for you, but for your family as well.

Scholarships
To help offset the cost of tuition, and to make our program as accessible as possible, we offer a limited number of partial scholarships. All applications will be evaluated for these awards automatically; there is no need to submit additional materials. If you are awarded a scholarship, you will be notified in your decision letter. 

In addition, Carnegie Mellon alumni are eligible for a scholarship to the Graduate Certificate in Foundations of Data Science worth up to 20% of tuition. Indicate your alumni status within the application to be eligible.

So, what is the investment per course?
Below is a breakdown of our tuition for the 2025/2026 academic year:

• An additional technology fee of approximately $240 will be assessed each semester (subject to change).
• The rates above are for the 2025/2026 academic year only. If the program is not completed within that time frame, tuition may increase slightly for the following academic year. 

Monthly Payment Plan

CMU provides a monthly payment option, managed by Nelnet Campus Commerce, designed to help students spread out tuition payments into manageable monthly installments. This plan also offers the ease of online enrollment. Should you be admitted and choose to join us, we recommend registering for this plan early to fully benefit from the range of payment options available.

Financial Aid & Private Loans

Students pursuing a graduate certificate are not eligible to receive federal financial aid. However, private loans are a viable alternative to consider with competitive interest rates and borrower benefits. See FastChoice, a free loan comparison service to easily research options.   

Employer Tuition Reimbursement

Many companies offer tuition reimbursement programs to foster professional development among their employees. We encourage you to contact your HR department to find out if similar opportunities exist at your workplace. 

When you speak to your employer, you can share that our program: 

• Consists of 5 transcripted, credit-bearing courses taught by real Carnegie Mellon professors (not just continuing education units).

• Addresses the entire data science workflow. Not only will students acquire technical skills in statistical and computational thinking, they’ll also learn how to ask the right data questions and how to leverage those insights when making business decisions.

• Emphasizes experiential learning by including relevant, real-world data in the coursework and requiring a penultimate capstone project in which students work with real-world data to apply the skills and competencies they gain throughout the program.

• Will help you adopt a more data-centric mindset when approaching business problems and/or help you communicate more clearly with data scientists on your team or in your organization.

• Is delivered completely online, which means you can take classes on your own time while maintaining your normal work schedule.

Not sure how to approach your employer? Need specific documents to proceed with enrollment? Contact an admissions counselor for assistance. If you’re ready to make more data-informed decisions, we’re here to help you make that a reality.

The Graduate Certificate in Foundations of Data Science is eligible for CMU tuition remission. Review the CMU tuition remission policy to check your eligibility.

GI Bill Funding

Carnegie Mellon University provides services to veterans and their dependents who are eligible for Veterans Education Benefits under the Montgomery G.I. Bill®, Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program. Please note, our online graduate certificates are not currently eligible for the Yellow Ribbon program. 

The process starts with an application directly to Veterans Affairs and once approved, you will provide your Certificate of Eligibility to the Carnegie Mellon Veterans Affairs Coordinator. Contact Information and additional details about the process can be found here.

Students eligible for GI Bill funding may receive scholarship awards prior to full GI Bill funding confirmation. Scholarship awards will be adjusted to reflect GI Bill funding and cannot exceed the cost of tuition/fees.

As part of a global university with locations and students from around the world, the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences welcomes the diverse perspectives that international students bring to our programs.

To help ensure you are fully prepared for the admissions process and, if admitted, for success as a student, this section provides detailed information about requirements for international applicants.

The Graduate Certificate in Foundations of Data Science considers for admission international applicants who reside within, or outside of, the domestic United States. International applicants who reside within or outside of the domestic United States are advised of the following information and additional requirements for international applicants to the program.

Student Visas

Since this program is fully online, enrollment in this program will not qualify students for any type of visa to enter or remain in the United States for any purpose. 

U.S. Sanctions; U.S. Sanctioned Countries

Individuals who are the target of U.S. sanctions or who are ordinarily resident in a U.S. sanctioned country or who live or expect to live in a U.S. sanctioned country while participating in the program are not eligible for admission to this program due to legal restrictions/prohibitions and should not apply. U.S sanctioned countries are currently Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria and the following regions of Ukraine: Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk. In addition, all or a portion of this program may not be available to individuals who are ordinarily resident of certain countries due to legal restrictions. 

Applications received from these individuals will not be accepted. As well, if an individual is admitted to the program and subsequently, the individual becomes the target of U.S. sanctions, ordinarily resident of a U.S. sanctioned country or lives in a U.S. sanctioned country while participating in the program (or otherwise becomes ordinarily resident of country in which the program is not available due to legal restrictions), the individual’s continued enrollment in the program may be terminated and/or restricted (due to U.S. legal restrictions/ prohibitions) and the individual may not be able to complete the program.  

Time and Attendance Requirement

Classes for the program will be taught in the U.S. Eastern Time Zone, and students must be available to attend all live classes, regardless of location.

Licensure in Various Jurisdictions

From time to time Carnegie Mellon reviews the licensing requirements of various jurisdictions in order to assess whether Carnegie Mellon may be precluded from making the program available to applicants that are residents of one or more of these jurisdictions prior to Carnegie Mellon obtaining the relevant license(s). Affected applicants from these jurisdictions, if any, will be notified prior to enrollment if Carnegie Mellon determines that it is unable to make the program available to them for this reason.

Value Added Tax (VAT) and Other Taxes

The tuition, required fees and other amounts quoted for this program do not include charges for applicable Taxes (hereinafter defined). The student is responsible for payment of all applicable Taxes (if any) relating to the tuition, required fees and other amounts required to be paid to Carnegie Mellon for the program, including any Taxes payable as a result of the student’s payment of such Taxes. 

Further, the student must timely make all payments due to Carnegie Mellon without deduction for Taxes, unless the deduction is required by law. If the student is required under applicable law to withhold Taxes from any payment due to Carnegie Mellon, the student is responsible for timely (i) paying to Carnegie Mellon such additional amounts as are necessary so that Carnegie Mellon receives the full amount that it would have received absent such withholding, and (ii) providing to Carnegie Mellon all documentation, if any, necessary to permit the student and/or Carnegie Mellon to claim the application of available tax treaty benefits (for Carnegie Mellon review and completion, if warranted and acceptable). 

Taxes mean any taxes, governmental charges, duties, or similar additions or deductions of any kind, including all use, income, goods and services, value added, excise and withholding taxes assessed by or payable in the student’s country of residence and/or country of payment (but does not include any U.S. federal, state or local taxes)

1. What kind of academic background do I need?
   Successful applicants will have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, a forward-thinking mindset and an innate curiosity.
2. Do I need work experience?
   No, you do not need prior work experience to apply for the program.
3. What materials do I need to submit when I apply to this program?
   Besides the online application, applicants must submit a current resume, transcripts and a statement of purpose to be considered for enrollment.  
4. Is there an application fee?
   No, this program does not require an application fee.
5. When is the application deadline? 
   All applicants who submit by the priority deadline of July 16, 2025 will be considered for a partial scholarship award. The final deadline to apply is July 30, 2025.
6. How do I check the status of my application?
   You can view the status of your application at any time in the application portal. A decision letter from Carnegie Mellon will be sent through the application portal within a few weeks of submitting your online application.
7. After I submit my application, when will I receive a decision?
   You’ll receive a decision letter within a few weeks of submitting your application.
8. Is a deposit required to secure my spot?
   No, a deposit is not required to secure your spot in the program.
9. If I choose to complete the entire certificate, what is my total investment?
   The total investment for the Foundations of Data Science certificate during the 2025/2026 academic year is $21,210. A breakdown of the tuition and fees can be found above. Partial scholarships are available; all applicants who apply by the priority deadline of July 16, 2025 will receive a partial scholarship award. Carnegie Mellon alumni are eligible for a scholarship to the Graduate Certificate in Foundations of Data Science worth up to 20% of tuition.
10. Is this program eligible for CMU tuition remission?
    Yes, the Graduate Certificate in Foundations of Data Science is eligible for CMU tuition remission. Review the CMU tuition remission policy to check your eligibility.
11. Does CMU accept the GI Bill?
    Yes! Carnegie Mellon University provides services to veterans and their dependents who are eligible for Veterans Education Benefits under the Montgomery G.I. Bill®, Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program. Please note, our online graduate certificates are not currently eligible for the Yellow Ribbon program. 
    
    The process starts with an application directly to Veterans Affairs and once approved, you will provide your Certificate of Eligibility to the Carnegie Mellon Veterans Affairs Coordinator. Contact Information and additional details about the process can be found here.
    
    Students eligible for GI Bill funding may receive scholarship awards prior to full GI Bill funding confirmation. Scholarship awards will be adjusted to reflect GI Bill funding and cannot exceed the cost of tuition/fees.