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Frequently Asked Questions
Admissions

Undergraduate Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions

Each year, about forty students join the School of Design’s undergraduate community. Most enter the Bachelor of Design (BDes), which begins with a shared first year curriculum. In the second year, students choose a track in Products Design, Communication Design, or Environments Design. 

A smaller number of students pursue the BXA Design degree, which combines Design with another college at Carnegie Mellon. 
The School of Design reviews only Bachelor of Design applicants during Early Decision. All BXA applicants are reviewed during Regular Decision. 

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How to Apply

We're so excited that you're ready to apply!  Here's what you need to do:

  • Explore Our Programs: Review the BDes and BXA Design degrees to find the one that best matches your interests and goals.
  • Submit the Common Application: Complete the Common Application and all required application materials for Carnegie Mellon undergraduate admission.
  • Submit Your Portfolio: Upload your portfolio and About Me video through SlideRoom.

Application Deadlines:

Early Decision (BDes only):

  • Application Deadline: November 2
  • Portfolio Deadline: November 2
  • Notification: December 15
  • Enrollment Deadline: February 1

Early Decision is not available for BXA programs.

Regular Decision (BDes and BXA):

  • Application Deadline: January 4
  • Portfolio Deadline: January 11
  • Notification: No later than April 1
  • Enrollment Deadline: May 1

Admission Requirements

  • Your portfolio should showcase your strongest work in 2D and/or 3D and demonstrate how you explore ideas, make decision, and develop your creative process. 

    Requirements:

    • Digital submission: Upload your portfolio through the University’s secure SlideRoom portal. Physical portfolios and interviews are not used in the admission process.
    • Creative work slides: Submit 10 to 18 slides featuring your strongest 2D and/or 3D work. Include at least one slide that shows your creative process.  
    • Media flexibility: You may include drawings, paintings, mixed-media, sculpture, photography, videos, animations, product or digital design, furniture and other creative work.
    • About Me video: A 90 second About Me video is required and brings your total maximum submission to 19 items.
    • Portfolio Submission Guidelines: Review the guidelines for additional requirements. 

  • Prompt:

    We invite you to share the experiences, interests, or motivations that help us understand what is meaningful to you and how your perspective connects to design. You might reflect on activities, formative moments, or ideas that shape your curiosity and creative outlook.

    Requirements:

    • Video submission: Upload your About Me video through SlideRoom.
    • Length: Up to 90 seconds, recorded in your own voice.
    • Recording options: Record on any device (phone or webcam). No special equipment or advanced editing required.
    • Placement in SlideRoom: Include your video as the first or last item in your SlideRoom submission. 

  • The Design-specific essay is required in addition to the Common Application personal essay and Carnegie Mellon University’s supplemental essays. 

    Prompt (Please answer in no more than 500 words)

    Why are you interested in studying design, what do you hope to learn and do as a designer, and why is Carnegie Mellon the right place for you?  You may want to share what excites you about design, the kinds of work you hope to make, the issues or questions you want to explore, and how CMU’s approach connects with your interests.

  • School of Design

    • 4 years English
    • 2 years Mathematics
    • 2 years Science
    • 2 years Foreign Language
    • 6 Electives

    BXA Design

    See BXA academic prerequisites for BXA for additional requirements. 

  • The School of Design is test optional and requires a portfolio. 

    If you choose to report scores, find additional details here.

  • Common Application: $75*
    SlideRoom: $25

    *Carnegie Mellon accepts fee waivers from students who meet one of the indicators of economic need as outlined on the Common Application.

International Students

Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid

Information & Visit

 

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Looking for more info?

Head over to our FAQs page for more info on questions you might have and the statistics on post graduate outcomes.

Any other questions can be sent to our admissions team at admissions@design.cmu.edu.