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🇺🇸 Carnegie Mellon University · Programs

Carnegie Mellon University Best Programs & Majors for International Students 2026

Carnegie Mellon University's strongest programs and what each is genuinely known for — beyond marketing copy. With BrightKey's view on which serves international students best.

Carnegie Mellon University's strongest programs include School of Computer Science (SCS), Robotics Institute, School of Drama.

Notable programs

School of Computer Science (SCS)

Seven departments, three hundred faculty, number-one rankings in AI, programming languages, systems, cybersecurity, and software engineering. The world's largest dedicated computer science school, operating as a university within a university.

Robotics Institute

Founded in 1979 as the world's first dedicated robotics department. Software developed here navigated NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars. The 150,000-square-foot Robotics Innovation Center opened February 2026.

School of Drama

America's first degree-granting drama institution, founded 1914. Alumni have won sixty-six Tony Awards. Consistently ranked number one for BFA acting and musical theatre by Hollywood Reporter and peer surveys.

Machine Learning Department

The world's first standalone machine learning department, offering dedicated PhD and master's programmes. Faculty publish at the highest rates in NeurIPS, ICML, and ICLR among all institutions globally.

Human-Computer Interaction Institute

Pioneered HCI as an academic discipline. Offers undergraduate and graduate degrees combining design research, cognitive science, and software engineering — producing graduates who define interaction paradigms at Apple, Google, and Microsoft.

Tepper School of Business (MBA)

Ranked sixteenth nationally and rising. STEM-designated MBA qualifying for thirty-six-month OPT. Number one in business analytics for five consecutive years. Strongest AI and quantitative integration of any MBA programme.

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