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Carnegie Mellon University
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Carnegie Mellon University - Diversity - Diversity - College ProwlerCollege Prowler5.00

Diversity

A+
Where does this grade come from?View all Diversity rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Diversity Grades:

Quick Stats

African American 5%
Asian American 23%
Hispanic 5%
International 14%
Native American 1%
White 41%
Unknown 11%
Historically Black College/University? No
Tribal College? No
Out-of-State Students 83%
Common States of Residence
  • California
  • Foreign countries
  • Maryland
  • New Jersey
  • New York
Student Age Breakdown Under 18: 2%
18-19: 26%
20-21: 26%
22-24: 20%
25+: 26%
Female Faculty 26%
Male Faculty 74%
Faculty Diversity African American: 2%
Asian American: 8%
Hispanic: 2%
International: 13%
Native American: 0%
White: 75%
Unknown: 0%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Carnegie Mellon is a unique campus in that Caucasian students aren't an obvious majority of the people on campus. In fact, during your first trip to CMU, your first reaction might be that there is a large number of Asian students. Students will tell you that the largest and most expansive cultural groups on campus are comprised of Koreans and Indians. While other Eastern and Southern Asian countries are represented by the student body, it’s probably the only place in Pittsburgh where you will see such high concentrations of Asian students. But that is regularly just their ethnic background. In fact, not many students are considered to be international. So while there are people of Asian, African, European, or South American descents, they are still American students.

Race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexuality, etc., don’t really matter at CMU. Many campuses say this, but think of how rare it is to be able to step onto a campus and literally see how different each and every single student is. Because people come from all different economic and geographic backgrounds and major in pretty much every concentration under the sun, students expect to not have had an identical life with the others in their classes. From their first year on campus, students will learn so many random facts about cultures and religions that they might not have been exposed to. It is just par for the course at CMU to stop and say, "Well, that is something you don’t see every day."

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Carnegie Mellon Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Diversity at Carnegie Mellon University

catashhhtrophe

Psychology '15

4.2
A-

Good Racial Diversity, but Political?

I've met people here that I never would have met otherwise. There is a large international student population and everyone is very accepting. Politically, the campus is largely leftist, and sometimes those of differing viewpoints are not as accepted.

Apr 29, 2012

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Diversity at Carnegie Mellon University

alinichols10

Business Administration and Management '14

4.6
A

Very Diverse

The campus is very diverse. It seems that the international students take up half the student body.

Mar 10, 2012

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Diversity at Carnegie Mellon University

IH8CMU

Chemical Engineering '13

3.8
B+

Lots of Azns

There are a lot and of many different types. Be aware. Be prepared.

Feb 20, 2012

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Page 1 of 15
User rating for Carnegie Mellon University - Diversity is 4.6 out of 5 based on 44 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

How diverse is the student body in the following areas?

How diverse is your personal circle of friends in the following areas?

How accepting is the campus community as a whole toward someone who falls into the minority (ethnic, sexual, or religious)?

How would you best describe your personal political beliefs?

How would you best describe the political beliefs of campus as a whole?

Facts

Gay Pride

This campus is very accepting of members of the LGBTQ community. Most would think that the gay community is centrally located in the College of Fine Arts, but that is a common misconception. There are LGBTQ people in a large variety of majors, including those in engineering, information systems, biological sciences, and more that are the opposite of fine arts. People of all sexual orientations are accepted with open arms, and you'll find it hard to gather evidence that says otherwise.

Political Activity

Students aren't afraid to voice their political opinions, but you won't hear them do so often—mostly because students are not as concerned with politics as they are with how many all-nighters they plan to spend at Hunt Library. There are student groups for Democrats, Libertarians, and Republicans, but their involvement is not a major force. The only times when CMU students really get involved in politics are when foreign presidents and diplomats come to speak (as they tend to bring protesters along with them), or when the University Center offers tables where students can register to vote.

Economic Status

Students come from a variety of backgrounds, but most would identify as middle class or upper-middle class (which in this day and age, equates to high class). This is because of the high numbers of students who come from international backgrounds. Those that mainly live outside of the United States don't receive financial aid, so to finance CMU's $50,000-plus tuition and fees would take a pretty rich family. Some of these "rich kids" aren't necessarily international, but again, their parents can afford to foot the lofty invoice that comes with a world-renowned education. While these students certainly exist, a majority of the student population is middle class and relies on some form of financial aid—whether it be loans, scholarships, or work-study.

Most Common Religions

Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Hindus, Muslims—the list goes on and on. At CMU, there is no established religion, and there are both student groups and University-sponsored events for those of all religions (or lack of religion). For example, during Homecoming weekend, the campus celebrates Diwali for all of the Indian students, even though it means something different for each religion that observes it. There is a Jewish fraternity and a Jewish university center, Hillel, where students can elect to eat if the meal plan doesn't satisfy their diet. There are prayer rooms for all religions on the first and lower levels of the University Center, and students of all races and religions come together to form their own small Bible studies or prayer groups.

Minority Clubs on Campus

The most notable minority clubs are Spirit for African Americans, ASA (Asian Student Association), and Mayur (the Indian student association). However, the list doesn't stop there. The 50-plus multicultural student organizations contribute to a large portion of the events on campus. Spirit Fashion Show takes place each spring during the Sleeping Bag Weekend for newly admitted minority students. Mayur hosts one of the most prominent bhangra competitions in the East ("Bhangra in the Burgh") each fall. Whether you are looking for entertainment, service opportunities, or some cheap, home-cooked food, the minority clubs host dozens of events each semester and are a force to be reckoned with on campus.

Did You Know? Carnegie Mellon University has a campus in Qatar that specializes in biological sciences, business administration, computer science, computational biology, and information systems. Aspiring undergraduates can apply directly to Qatar, or apply to Pittsburgh and choose to study in Qatar for a semester.

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Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Raina Bradford-Jennings
Hometown
Brookfield, CT
Major
Professional Writing
Grad Year
2014

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.