Still growing.New universities and courses are added most weekdays (not weekends), each checked against the university's own page before it goes live — worth checking back. Sources last read 1 Oct 2026. How we verify →

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QS #55Pittsburgh, United States· QS World University Rankings 2027

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh, United States, has 26 undergraduate courses listed on StudyPath. International tuition is US$69,702 a year. CMU publishes its own accommodation prices, from US$9,078 per year. All of them publish an application deadline. Every figure above was read from CMU's own published pages and last checked on 24 August 2026.

#3 · Computer Science and Information Systems
Courses
26
Fees verified
26 / 26
cmu.edu ↗
Gates-Hillman Complex at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. This building houses the School of Computer Science, consistently ranked one of the best computer science programs over the decades. Verified
Gates-Hillman Complex at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. This building houses the School of Computer Science, consistently ranked one of the best computer science programs over the decades. · Photo: DlluCC BY-SA 4.0
Applies everywhere on the site, on this device — change it any time.
Not set — every fee below is the international rate. Home and EU/EEA rates are often far lower.

courses

26 courses

#3 Computer Science

Computer Science

BS · 4 years · Computer Science

International tuition

US$69,702 per year

~US$278,800 for the whole 4 years, at today's fee
Verified

2026/27 · Same rate across the institution · All students — no separate international rate

CMU sets a single undergraduate tuition rate for the whole university, covering the School of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Mellon College of Science and all other colleges; only graduate tuition is set per-college. Domestic and international undergraduates are charged the same rate (audience: all-students).

Show the fee on the university's site
Intake
August 2026 (Fall semester)
Source
Application deadline
4 January (Regular Decision)
Source

What you'll study

Not yet added.

Entry requirementsEnglish · tests · grades · interview

English language

  • IELTS Academic, 7.5 overall, subscores of 7.5 and aboveCMU also gives consideration to applicants scoring 7.5+ in each subscore, but only the 7.5 overall band score is a strict minimum.
  • TOEFL iBT, 5 overall, 5 and above in each sectionNew TOEFL scoring scale applies to exams taken on or after 21 Jan 2026 (minimum overall 5, sections 5+). For exams taken before 21 Jan 2026 (the prior 120-point scale), CMU's stated minimum was 102 overall with 25+ per section; that older rule is now historical.
Source

Admissions tests

  • SAT requiredFall 2026 policy: School of Computer Science requires an SAT or an ACT score (either one, not both). Superscoring is accepted for the SAT.
  • ACT requiredAccepted as an alternative to the SAT for School of Computer Science applicants. CMU does not accept superscored ACT results because the composite score is fixed to one sitting.
Source

Academic offer

School of Computer Science high-school requirements: 4 years English; 4 years Mathematics (through pre-calculus, calculus strongly encouraged); 1 year Physics; 2 years of Chemistry, Biology or Computer Science; 2 years Foreign Language; 3 electives. Stricter than most other CMU colleges, which require a full year each of Chemistry, Physics and Biology.
Source
Convert your grade to compare →

Interview

Not required for admission generally. InitialView or Vericant interviews are recommended (optional) for nonnative English speakers only.
Source

#3 Computer Science

Artificial Intelligence

BS · 4 years · Data Science & AI, Computer Science

International tuition

US$69,702 per year

~US$278,800 for the whole 4 years, at today's fee
Verified

2026/27 · Same rate across the institution · All students — no separate international rate

CMU sets a single undergraduate tuition rate for the whole university, covering the School of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Mellon College of Science and all other colleges; only graduate tuition is set per-college. Domestic and international undergraduates are charged the same rate (audience: all-students).

Show the fee on the university's site
Intake
August 2026 (Fall semester)
Source
Application deadline
4 January (Regular Decision)
Source

What you'll study

Not yet added.

Entry requirementsEnglish · tests · grades · interview

English language

  • IELTS Academic, 7.5 overall, subscores of 7.5 and aboveCMU also gives consideration to applicants scoring 7.5+ in each subscore, but only the 7.5 overall band score is a strict minimum.
  • TOEFL iBT, 5 overall, 5 and above in each sectionNew TOEFL scoring scale applies to exams taken on or after 21 Jan 2026 (minimum overall 5, sections 5+). For exams taken before 21 Jan 2026 (the prior 120-point scale), CMU's stated minimum was 102 overall with 25+ per section; that older rule is now historical.
Source

Admissions tests

  • SAT requiredFall 2026 policy: School of Computer Science (which administers the AI major) requires an SAT or an ACT score (either one, not both). Superscoring is accepted for the SAT.
  • ACT requiredAccepted as an alternative to the SAT for School of Computer Science applicants. CMU does not accept superscored ACT results because the composite score is fixed to one sitting.
Source

Academic offer

School of Computer Science high-school requirements (AI is an SCS major): 4 years English; 4 years Mathematics (through pre-calculus, calculus strongly encouraged); 1 year Physics; 2 years of Chemistry, Biology or Computer Science; 2 years Foreign Language; 3 electives.
Source
Convert your grade to compare →

Interview

Not required for admission generally. InitialView or Vericant interviews are recommended (optional) for nonnative English speakers only.
Source

#3 Computer Science

Computational Biology

BS · 4 years · Biology & Life Sciences, Computer Science

International tuition

US$69,702 per year

~US$278,800 for the whole 4 years, at today's fee
Verified

2026/27 · Same rate across the institution · All students — no separate international rate

CMU sets a single undergraduate tuition rate for the whole university, covering the School of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Mellon College of Science and all other colleges; only graduate tuition is set per-college. Domestic and international undergraduates are charged the same rate (audience: all-students).

Show the fee on the university's site
Intake
August 2026 (Fall semester)
Source
Application deadline
4 January (Regular Decision)
Source

What you'll study

Not yet added.

Entry requirementsEnglish · tests · grades · interview

English language

  • IELTS Academic, 7.5 overall, subscores of 7.5 and aboveCMU also gives consideration to applicants scoring 7.5+ in each subscore, but only the 7.5 overall band score is a strict minimum.
  • TOEFL iBT, 5 overall, 5 and above in each sectionNew TOEFL scoring scale applies to exams taken on or after 21 Jan 2026 (minimum overall 5, sections 5+). For exams taken before 21 Jan 2026 (the prior 120-point scale), CMU's stated minimum was 102 overall with 25+ per section; that older rule is now historical.
Source

Admissions tests

  • SAT requiredFall 2026 policy: School of Computer Science (which administers Computational Biology) requires an SAT or an ACT score (either one, not both). Superscoring is accepted for the SAT.
  • ACT requiredAccepted as an alternative to the SAT for School of Computer Science applicants. CMU does not accept superscored ACT results because the composite score is fixed to one sitting.
Source

Academic offer

School of Computer Science high-school requirements (Computational Biology is an SCS major): 4 years English; 4 years Mathematics (through pre-calculus, calculus strongly encouraged); 1 year Physics; 2 years of Chemistry, Biology or Computer Science; 2 years Foreign Language; 3 electives.
Source
Convert your grade to compare →

Interview

Not required for admission generally. InitialView or Vericant interviews are recommended (optional) for nonnative English speakers only.
Source

#3 Computer Science

Statistics and Machine Learning

BS · 4 years · Statistics, Data Science & AI

International tuition

US$69,702 per year

~US$278,800 for the whole 4 years, at today's fee
Verified

2026/27 · Same rate across the institution · All students — no separate international rate

CMU sets a single undergraduate tuition rate for the whole university, covering the School of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Mellon College of Science and all other colleges; only graduate tuition is set per-college. Domestic and international undergraduates are charged the same rate (audience: all-students).

Show the fee on the university's site
Intake
August 2026 (Fall semester)
Source
Application deadline
4 January (Regular Decision)
Source

What you'll study

Not yet added.

Entry requirementsEnglish · tests · grades · interview

English language

  • IELTS Academic, 7.5 overall, subscores of 7.5 and aboveCMU also gives consideration to applicants scoring 7.5+ in each subscore, but only the 7.5 overall band score is a strict minimum.
  • TOEFL iBT, 5 overall, 5 and above in each sectionNew TOEFL scoring scale applies to exams taken on or after 21 Jan 2026 (minimum overall 5, sections 5+). For exams taken before 21 Jan 2026 (the prior 120-point scale), CMU's stated minimum was 102 overall with 25+ per section; that older rule is now historical.
Source

Admissions tests

  • SAT optionalTest flexible for fall 2026: Dietrich College (which houses Statistics & Data Science) requires a test score but lets applicants choose which one; SAT is one accepted option.
  • ACT optionalTest-flexible accepted option.
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) optionalPredicted or actual IB scores accepted under CMU's test-flexible policy.
  • Advanced Placement optionalAP scores accepted under CMU's test-flexible policy.
  • Cambridge A-Level optionalPredicted or actual A-Level results accepted under CMU's test-flexible policy.
  • French Baccalaureate optionalPredicted or actual French Baccalaureate scores accepted under CMU's test-flexible policy.
Source

Academic offer

Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences high-school requirements: 4 years English; 3 years Mathematics; 1 year Science (2 years or more preferred); 2 years Foreign Language; 6 electives. Advanced mathematics is strongly encouraged for students pursuing Bachelor of Science programs such as Statistics and Machine Learning.
Source
✓ Word for wordRead 2 Aug 2026
“Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences 4 years English 3 years Mathematics* 1 year Science (2 years or more preferred) 2 years Foreign Language 6 Electives”
Academic Requirements & College-Level Work | Undergraduate Admission | Carnegie Mellon Universitycmu.edu
Open the official page ↗
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Interview

Not required for admission generally. InitialView or Vericant interviews are recommended (optional) for nonnative English speakers only.
Source

#3 Computer Science

Information Systems

BS · 4 years · Computer Science, Information Systems

International tuition

US$69,702 per year

~US$278,800 for the whole 4 years, at today's fee
Verified

2026/27 · Same rate across the institution · All students — no separate international rate

CMU sets a single undergraduate tuition rate for the whole university, covering the School of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Mellon College of Science and all other colleges; only graduate tuition is set per-college. Domestic and international undergraduates are charged the same rate (audience: all-students).

Show the fee on the university's site
Intake
August 2026 (Fall semester)
Source
Application deadline
4 January (Regular Decision)
Source

What you'll study

Not yet added.

Entry requirementsEnglish · tests · grades · interview

English language

  • IELTS Academic, 7.5 overall, subscores of 7.5 and aboveCMU also gives consideration to applicants scoring 7.5+ in each subscore, but only the 7.5 overall band score is a strict minimum.
  • TOEFL iBT, 5 overall, 5 and above in each sectionNew TOEFL scoring scale applies to exams taken on or after 21 Jan 2026 (minimum overall 5, sections 5+). For exams taken before 21 Jan 2026 (the prior 120-point scale), CMU's stated minimum was 102 overall with 25+ per section; that older rule is now historical.
Source

Admissions tests

  • SAT optionalTest flexible for fall 2026: Heinz College's Information Systems program requires a test score but lets applicants choose which one; SAT is one accepted option.
  • ACT optionalTest-flexible accepted option.
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) optionalPredicted or actual IB scores accepted under CMU's test-flexible policy.
  • Advanced Placement optionalAP scores accepted under CMU's test-flexible policy.
  • Cambridge A-Level optionalPredicted or actual A-Level results accepted under CMU's test-flexible policy.
  • French Baccalaureate optionalPredicted or actual French Baccalaureate scores accepted under CMU's test-flexible policy.
Source

Academic offer

Information Systems high-school requirements: 4 years English; 4 years Mathematics (through pre-calculus, calculus preferred); 1 year Science (2 years or more preferred); 2 years Foreign Language; 6 electives.
Source
✓ Word for wordRead 2 Aug 2026
“Information Systems 4 years English 4 years Mathematics* 1 year Science (2 years or more preferred) 2 years Foreign Language 6 Electives”
Academic Requirements & College-Level Work | Undergraduate Admission | Carnegie Mellon Universitycmu.edu
Open the official page ↗
Convert your grade to compare →

Interview

Not required for admission generally. InitialView or Vericant interviews are recommended (optional) for nonnative English speakers only.
Source

Electrical and Computer Engineering

BS · 4 years · Electrical & Electronic Engineering

International tuition

US$69,702 per year

~US$278,800 for the whole 4 years, at today's fee
Verified

2026/27 · Same rate across the institution · All students — no separate international rate

CMU sets a single undergraduate tuition rate for the whole university, covering the School of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Mellon College of Science and all other colleges; only graduate tuition is set per-college. Domestic and international undergraduates are charged the same rate (audience: all-students).

Show the fee on the university's site
Intake
August 2026 (Fall semester)
Source
Application deadline
4 January (Regular Decision)
Source

What you'll study

Not yet added.

Entry requirementsEnglish · tests · grades · interview

English language

  • IELTS Academic, 7.5 overall, subscores of 7.5 and aboveCMU also gives consideration to applicants scoring 7.5+ in each subscore, but only the 7.5 overall band score is a strict minimum.
  • TOEFL iBT, 5 overall, 5 and above in each sectionNew TOEFL scoring scale applies to exams taken on or after 21 Jan 2026 (minimum overall 5, sections 5+). For exams taken before 21 Jan 2026 (the prior 120-point scale), CMU's stated minimum was 102 overall with 25+ per section; that older rule is now historical.
Source

Admissions tests

  • SAT optionalTest flexible for fall 2026: College of Engineering requires a test score but lets applicants choose which one; SAT is one accepted option.
  • ACT optionalTest-flexible accepted option.
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) optionalPredicted or actual IB scores accepted under CMU's test-flexible policy.
  • Advanced Placement optionalAP scores accepted under CMU's test-flexible policy.
  • Cambridge A-Level optionalPredicted or actual A-Level results accepted under CMU's test-flexible policy.
  • French Baccalaureate optionalPredicted or actual French Baccalaureate scores accepted under CMU's test-flexible policy.
Source

Academic offer

College of Engineering high-school requirements: 4 years English; 4 years Mathematics (through pre-calculus, calculus strongly encouraged); 1 year Chemistry; 1 year Physics; 1 year Biology; 2 years Foreign Language; 3 electives.
Source
Convert your grade to compare →

Interview

Not required for admission generally. InitialView or Vericant interviews are recommended (optional) for nonnative English speakers only.
Source

How CMU compares

Against the other universities in the United States on StudyPath, using each one's verified international fees and its own published housing prices. Universities are only compared with others charging in the same currency (and, for housing, for the same period), so no figure here has been converted. A ~ marks a year worked out from a per-term or whole-course fee.

CMU's lowest undergraduate fee for international students is US$69,702 a year, for Artificial Intelligence. Of the 89 other universities in the United States we list with undergraduate fees in USD, 19 charge more at their lowest, 70 charge less. Their lowest undergraduate fees run from ~US$2,440 (UoPeople) to US$75,960 (UChicago).

Student housing. CMU's own lowest published rate is US$9,078 per year. Of the 47 other universities in the United States we list that publish housing per year in USD, 32 charge more, 15 charge less. Their lowest published rates run from US$2,916 (Purdue) to US$22,608 (USC).

By subject
SubjectLowest fee hereAgainst other universities in the United StatesTheir lowest fees
Computer ScienceundergraduateUS$69,702Artificial Intelligence19 of 86 charge more~US$12,921 to US$75,960
Electrical & Electronic EngineeringundergraduateUS$69,702Electrical and Computer Engineering15 of 81 charge more~US$12,921 to US$75,384
Mechanical EngineeringundergraduateUS$69,702Mechanical Engineering15 of 77 charge more~US$12,921 to US$75,384
Biology & Life SciencesundergraduateUS$69,702Biological Sciences17 of 66 charge more~US$12,921 to US$75,960
PhysicsundergraduateUS$69,702Physics14 of 65 charge more~US$12,921 to US$75,960
ChemistryundergraduateUS$69,702Chemistry15 of 60 charge more~US$12,921 to US$75,960

Subjects taught at CMU

Each one opens every course in that subject, at every university we hold, with the same verified fees.

Where these figures come from

12 sentences from CMU's own site each back several figures above. Each is quoted once here; every course that uses one still opens it and links to its own source page.

  1. Used for course length on 26 courses

    “Carnegie Mellon undergraduate students are expected to complete their program of study within eight semesters of full-time enrollment, or 10 semesters for undergraduate students in the Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) program.”
    Undergraduate Academic Regulations | Carnegie Mellon Universitycoursecatalog.web.cmu.eduread 24 Aug 2026
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  2. Used for international fee on 26 courses

    “2026-2027 Undergraduate Tuition & Fees First-Years Entering Fall 2026 Per-Unit Tuition Rate - $969 RESIDENT COMMUTER Tuition $69,702 $69,702”
    2026-2027 Undergraduate Tuition | Student Financial Services | Carnegie Mellon Universitycmu.eduread 2 Aug 2026
    Open the official page ↗

  3. Used for start dates on 16 courses

    “First day of classes is August 24, 2026.”
    Fall 2026 Courses | Carnegie Mellon University Computer Science Departmentcsd.cs.cmu.eduread 24 Aug 2026
    Open the official page ↗

  4. Used for application deadline on 16 courses

    “Regular Decision Timeline Deadline: January 4 Notified by: No later than April 1 Enroll by: May 1”
    Application Plans & Deadlines | Undergraduate Admission | Carnegie Mellon Universitycmu.eduread 24 Aug 2026
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  5. Used for entry requirements on 12 courses

    “IELTS We require at least a 7.5 overall band score on either the paper-based or computer-delivered Academic Examination and give consideration to those with subscores of 7.5 and above. When sending your official IELTS scores, please ensure that you choose "Carnegie Mellon University - Office of Undergraduate Admission" as the recipient for your score report. TOEFL iBT or iBT Home Edition For exams taken before Jan. 21, 2026: We require at least a 102 overall score and give consideration to those with subscores of 25 and above in each section. For exams taken on or after Jan. 21, 2026: We require at least a 5 in the overall score and give consideration to those with subscores of 5 and above in each section.”
    International Applicants | Undergraduate Admission | Carnegie Mellon Universitycmu.eduread 2 Aug 2026
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  6. Used for entry requirements on 12 courses

    “InitialView or Vericant interviews are recommended for nonnative English speakers but aren't required.”
    International Applicants | Undergraduate Admission | Carnegie Mellon Universitycmu.eduread 2 Aug 2026
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  7. Used for application deadline on 10 courses

    “Regular Decision is for students who are still considering their options and aren't ready to make an enrollment decision. It’s common for students to apply Regular Decision to a number of institutions and then compare universities. Regular Decision Timeline Deadline: January 4 Notified by: No later than April 1 Enroll by: May 1”
    Application Plans and Deadlines | Admission | Carnegie Mellon Universitycmu.eduread 24 Aug 2026
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  8. Used for entry requirements on 9 courses

    “The following colleges and programs are test flexible* for fall 2026: College of Engineering Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences Heinz College's Information Systems program Mellon College of Science Tepper School of Business *Test flexible means that you are required to submit test scores in order to complete your application, however, you may choose which type of test(s) you prefer to submit. Acceptable test options include the SAT, ACT, International Baccalaureate (IB) exam (predicted or actual scores), Advanced Placement, Cambridge A-Level (predicted or actual results) and the French Baccalaureate (predicted or actual scores).”
    Admission Consideration | Undergraduate Admission | Carnegie Mellon Universitycmu.eduread 2 Aug 2026
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  9. Used for entry requirements on 4 courses

    “Mellon College of Science 4 years English 4 years Mathematics* 1 year Chemistry 1 year Physics 1 year Biology 2 years Foreign Language 3 Electives”
    Academic Requirements & College-Level Work | Undergraduate Admission | Carnegie Mellon Universitycmu.eduread 2 Aug 2026
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  10. Used for entry requirements on 3 courses

    “College of Engineering 4 years English 4 years Mathematics* 1 year Chemistry 1 year Physics 1 year Biology 2 years Foreign Language 3 Electives”
    Academic Requirements & College-Level Work | Undergraduate Admission | Carnegie Mellon Universitycmu.eduread 2 Aug 2026
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  11. Used for entry requirements on 3 courses

    “School of Computer Science 4 years English 4 years Mathematics* 1 year Physics 2 years of Chemistry, Biology or Computer Science 2 years Foreign Language 3 Electives”
    Academic Requirements & College-Level Work | Undergraduate Admission | Carnegie Mellon Universitycmu.eduread 2 Aug 2026
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  12. Used for entry requirements on 3 courses

    “Our testing policy for fall 2026 varies by college/program: The School of Computer Science will require an SAT or an ACT score.”
    Admission Consideration | Undergraduate Admission | Carnegie Mellon Universitycmu.eduread 2 Aug 2026
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More about CMU

Student body

QS's own figures · QS World University Rankings 2027

Students
14,381
International students
5,912
≈41% of the student body (worked out here)
Faculty
1,580
International faculty
20%

These come from QS, not the university's own pages. Unlike every fee and deadline on this site. QS is the primary source for its own rankings and measurements, which is why it is cited here and rejected everywhere else.

Show the QS profile
✓ Word for wordRead 15 Aug 2026
“Students & Staff Total students 14,381 UG students 47.2% PG students 52.8% International students 5,912 UG students 20.8% PG students 79.2% Total faculty staff 1,580 Domestic staff 80% Int'l staff 20%”
Carnegie Mellon University : Rankings, Fees & Courses Details | TopUniversitiestopuniversities.com
Open the official page ↗

About & contact

Pittsburgh, United States· view on Google Maps ↗cmu.edu ↗

Find nearby

Halal food ↗Mosque ↗Supermarket ↗Pharmacy ↗Bank / ATM ↗SIM card ↗

These open a map search near Pittsburgh. StudyPath isn't listing or vouching for specific places — what the university itself publishes about on-campus facilities appears under On-campus amenities, cited like everything else here.

No admissions email, phone number, or address verified for this university yet. Not yet collected, not necessarily unavailable.

Accommodation

US$9,078–US$15,136per year

on-campus residence hall and apartment rooms, Academic Year Rate (2025-2026, non-staff), across room types

  • Donner House Double-as-TripleUS$9,078
  • Traditional TripleUS$10,078
  • Traditional DoubleUS$11,248
  • Boss House Semi-Suite DoubleUS$12,420
  • Clyde House Studio Apt DoubleUS$13,098
  • Studio Apt TripleUS$13,098
  • Traditional SingleUS$13,142
  • Fairfax Apartments Apartment DoubleUS$14,364
  • Semi-Suite SingleUS$14,418
  • Apartment SingleUS$15,136

Published by the university itself, not a live listings price. Actual cost depends on room type, availability and when you apply.

Show the source
✓ Word for wordRead 17 Aug 2026
“Boss House Semi-Suite Double $12,420 $6,210 60 FY Semi-Suite Single $14,418 $7,209 9 FY Clyde House Studio Apt Double $13,098 $6,549 14 FY Studio Apt Triple $13,098 $6,549 9 FY Donner House Double-as-Triple $9,078 $4,539 40 FY Traditional Double $11,248 $5,624 224 FY Traditional Single $13,142 $6,571 2 FY Traditional Triple $10,078 $5,039 6 FY Fairfax Apartments Apartment Double $14,364 $7,182 274 UC Apartment Single $15,136 $7,568 68 UC”
2025-2026 Housing Rates (Non-Staff) | Housing & Residential Education | Carnegie Mellon Universitycmu.edu
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Search student housing near Pittsburgh → (partner link)

After you graduate

Rules read 17 Aug 2026. Check the current rules, this may be out of date

What United States's own immigration authority currently publishes. Not a ranking, not a guarantee, and not the same as what any agent or forum will tell you. Whether someone actually obtains residence depends on occupation, points, funds and policy that can change between application and graduation.

Work during study

F-1 students may work on campus without separate USCIS authorization: up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, and full-time during official school breaks and the annual vacation, at a qualifying on-campus job (or an off-campus job that is educationally affiliated with the school, e.g. contractually funded postgraduate research) that does not displace a US citizen or lawful permanent resident. Off-campus employment based on economic need is not available by default — it requires case-by-case USCIS approval (a separate Form I-765 Employment Authorization Document application), granted only after a full academic year in status and only on a showing of severe economic hardship from unforeseen circumstances (or a DHS-declared 'emergent circumstances' event), and is capped at 20 hours/week in session, full-time out of session. Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and pre/post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) are separate, study-related practical-training work authorizations governed by their own rules (OPT is covered under 'post-study work' in this entry).

Show the source
✓ Word for wordRead 17 Aug 2026
“May work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session (full-time during those periods when school is not in session or during the annual vacation)”
Employment | ICEice.gov
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Post-study work visa

Optional Practical Training (OPT), including the 24-month STEM OPT extension . Up to 3 years
Any F-1 graduate, in any field, may apply for up to 12 months of post-completion Optional Practical Training (temporary employment directly related to their major, authorized via an Employment Authorization Document from USCIS; any pre-completion OPT already used is deducted from this 12 months). A graduate whose degree appears on DHS's STEM Designated Degree Program List (defined by Classification of Instructional Programs codes covering engineering, biological sciences, mathematics, physical sciences and related fields — not every STEM-sounding degree necessarily qualifies) may then apply for a further 24-month STEM OPT extension, for a combined maximum of 36 months, provided the employer is enrolled in and stays in good standing with E-Verify, signs a formal Form I-983 training plan, and the graduate works at least 20 hours per week for that employer. A second 24-month STEM OPT extension can become available if the graduate later earns another qualifying STEM degree at a higher educational level. Allowed unemployment while on OPT is capped at 90 days on the initial 12 months and a further 60 days (150 total) if a STEM extension is granted. Separately and importantly: a DHS final rule taking effect 15 September 2026 replaces the prior open-ended 'duration of status' framework with a fixed admission period (based on the program's length, capped at 4 years) — an F-1 student who needs to remain for post-completion OPT or a STEM OPT extension beyond that fixed period must separately file and be approved for a USCIS Extension of Stay (Form I-539) or the OPT/STEM OPT authorization cannot lawfully be used to remain in the country.

Show the source
✓ Word for wordRead 17 Aug 2026
“The STEM OPT extension is a 24-month period of temporary training that directly relates to an F-1 student's program of study in an approved STEM field. On May 10, 2016, this extension effectively replaced the previous 17-month STEM OPT extension. Eligible F-1 students with STEM degrees who finish their program of study and participate in an initial period of regular post-completion OPT (often for 12 months) have the option to apply for a STEM OPT extension.”
STEM OPT Extension Overview | Study in the Statesstudyinthestates.dhs.gov
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Route to permanent residence

OPT and the STEM OPT extension are temporary work authorizations tied to F-1 student status — neither one converts automatically into any form of permanent residence. The realistic route runs through employer sponsorship: an employer petitions for a temporary H-1B specialty-occupation worker visa (initial period up to 3 years, extendable to 6, generally requiring at least a US bachelor's degree or equivalent in a field directly related to the job), which is numerically capped at 65,000 new statuses per fiscal year plus a 20,000 exemption for holders of a US master's degree or higher, and allocated by an electronic registration lottery when demand exceeds the cap — USCIS confirmed the regular cap and the master's-degree cap were both already reached for fiscal year 2027 as of this reading. While on H-1B (or, for a smaller number of people, directly from F-1 in narrower cases such as extraordinary-ability or national-interest-waiver petitions), an employer or the individual can pursue one of five employment-based immigrant-visa (green card) preference categories (EB-1 through EB-5), most of which require the employer to first obtain a Department of Labor labor certification (PERM) showing no sufficient, willing, qualified US worker is available for the role — a process with no fixed timeline. Approximately 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas are available across all categories each fiscal year, and per-country annual limits mean the wait for applicants born in some countries (notably India and China) is materially longer than for others.

Show the source
✓ Word for wordRead 17 Aug 2026
“Some immigrant visa preference categories require you to have a permanent job offer from a U.S. employer. This employer will be considered your sponsor/petitioner and will file an immigrant petition with USCIS on your behalf.”
Permanent Workers | USCISuscis.gov
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Route to citizenship

Naturalization is administered by USCIS — the same agency that runs the immigration system, since both sit under the Department of Homeland Security. The most common route requires having held lawful permanent resident (green card) status for at least 5 years (3 years if married to and living with a US citizen for that period), continuous residence in the US for that period, physical presence in the US for at least 30 months of the preceding 5 years, at least 3 months' residence in the state or USCIS district where the applicant applies, good moral character for the qualifying period, basic ability to read, write and speak English, knowledge of US history and civics, and taking the Oath of Allegiance. The Oath itself contains renunciation language — an applicant swears to 'absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty' of which they were previously a subject or citizen — but this is a declaration of allegiance to the United States rather than a mechanism the US enforces against a person's other citizenship: US law does not require a naturalizing citizen to formally give up their original nationality, and the State Department's own guidance states that a person may naturalize in the United States (or abroad) without any requirement to choose between US citizenship and another nationality. Whether the applicant's country of origin lets them keep it in turn is that country's own decision, not a matter of US law.

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✓ Word for wordRead 17 Aug 2026
“Show you have been a lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States for at least five years;”
I am a Lawful Permanent Resident of 5 Years | USCISuscis.gov
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What the government currently prioritises

The United States has no federal points-based or general shortage-occupation list of the kind Canada, Australia, the UK or New Zealand publish. The closest official equivalent is the Department of Labor's narrow 'Schedule A' designation, published on USCIS's own site, which exempts only two specific groups of occupations from the standard PERM labor-certification process because DOL has already determined there are not enough available US workers for them — it is not a broader skills-shortage list and covers only a handful of roles.

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✓ Word for wordRead 17 Aug 2026
“Currently, DOL has designated 2 groups of occupations under Schedule A. Group I includes professional nurses and physical therapists. Group II includes beneficiaries with exceptional ability in the sciences or arts (including college and university teachers) and immigrants of exceptional ability in the performing arts.”
Permanent Workers | USCISuscis.gov
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Read 17 August 2026, during an unusually volatile stretch of US immigration policy — re-check every figure here before relying on it, more so than for any other country on StudyPath. Three developments in particular are live and could each change what a prospective student should expect: (1) A DHS final rule published 17 July 2026 ends the decades-old 'duration of status' framework for F-1 students effective 15 September 2026, replacing it with a fixed admission period (program length, capped at 4 years) plus a mandatory USCIS Extension of Stay (Form I-539, with biometrics and a fee) for anyone needing to remain for post-completion OPT or the STEM OPT extension beyond that fixed period — a procedural step that did not previously exist for most students. A transition window applies for students already in the US on the effective date. (2) A presidential proclamation effective 21 September 2025 requires a $100,000 payment for most new H-1B petitions filed for a beneficiary outside the US without a valid H-1B visa — the single biggest practical barrier between OPT/STEM OPT and long-term US employment for a new graduate whose employer has not already secured them an H-1B. As of this reading a federal district court had vacated DHS's guidance implementing the payment and a Court of Appeals had denied a government motion to stay that ruling, so DHS states it is complying 'while DHS considers next steps' but 'still plans to collect the payment' if the ruling is overturned — the requirement's real-world status is genuinely unsettled. (3) USCIS had already announced the regular H-1B cap (65,000) and the master's-degree exemption (20,000) were both reached for fiscal year 2027, meaning cap-subject H-1B sponsorship is a lottery with no guarantee of selection even where an employer is willing to sponsor. Only DHS/ICE (via the Student and Exchange Visitor Program), USCIS and studyinthestates.dhs.gov are treated as authoritative here per StudyPath’s rules — never a university international office, an immigration-law firm's explainer, or a visa-consultancy aggregator, all of which publish this same information with varying currency and interest in the outcome. citizenshipRoute added 17 August 2026: the 5-year/N-400 residence requirement and the Oath of Allegiance's literal renunciation clause are both cited to uscis.gov (460266156f73de78 and bd9ee58930f2ed05, the USCIS Policy Manual's own Oath of Allegiance chapter, already archived above for a different purpose and reused here). The practical dual-nationality statement is instead cited to the State Department's own travel.state.gov — a government domain newly accepted as a source here — because USCIS's own naturalization pages state the Oath's renunciation wording without separately confirming that the US does not enforce it, while travel.state.gov's 'Dual Nationality' page states the practical policy directly ('U.S. law does not require a U.S. citizen to choose between U.S. citizenship and another (foreign) nationality'). travel.state.gov returned HTTP 403 to automated fetching; it was archived from a browser capture. naturalisationStatus set to 'published-route' on 18 August 2026: the authority already cited under citizenshipRoute publishes criteria a foreign resident could actually follow, which is the only claim this field makes. It is deliberately not a judgement about how attainable that route is in practice. studentVisaFunds deliberately left empty, 19 August 2026, after checking: the United States publishes no national proof-of-funds figure for the F-1/M-1 student visa, so there is nothing to record. SEVP’s own Study in the States page on Financial Ability (the page itself last updated May 25, 2023) states the rule without any amount: a prospective student must show that they or a sponsor have “sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses during the period of intended study”, and it is the designated school official (DSO) at the SEVP-certified school who collects that evidence before issuing the Form I-20. The threshold is therefore set per school and per programme on the I-20 itself, and acceptable forms of evidence vary by school too. Any single dollar figure presented as “the US requirement” would be invented. A future collector should not go looking again unless DHS or the State Department starts publishing one.

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