The Musical Theatre program at Carnegie Mellon University is one of the most competitive programs in the country. The acceptance rate is around 5% for the students who apply, which means there are only about 20 spots available in each year’s incoming class.
The Musical Theatre program focuses on creating a high-quality production each year, and they have a reputation for being among the best in the country. They also offer a wide range of classes that help prepare students for their future careers.
Carnegie Mellon Musical Theatre Acceptance Rate
Introduction
If you’re an aspiring performer, the odds are good that you’ve dreamed of attending Carnegie Mellon University. After all, CMU is one of the top ten universities for drama and theater in America. However, even if you get into CMU as an undergrad, it’s a bit harder to be accepted into its musical theater program. After all, only about 200 students are enrolled in any given year. Being accepted into the program means becoming a part of a close-knit and talented community that’s made up primarily of fellow students who were also accepted on their first try at applying to Carnegie Mellon.
Carnegie Mellon Musical Theatre Acceptance Rate
Carnegie Mellon Musical Theatre acceptance rates vary from year to year, but typically hover around the 10% mark. To find out the exact percentage of applicants who were accepted, check out our CMU Musical Theatre admissions statistics page.
CMU’s low acceptance rate makes it a more selective school than most other colleges and universities in the country. In order to help you understand how many students get into Carnegie Mellon Musical Theatre each year, we’ve put together some additional information about their applicant pool:
- How many students applied? 2,092
- How many were offered admission? 1,049 (50%)
What is Carnegie Mellon musical theatre?
Carnegie Mellon musical theatre is a program that trains students to become performers in musical theater. The program’s focus is on classical and contemporary musical theatre, as well as dance and voice. Students may choose to focus on one of these areas or combine all three areas in their studies.
The program at Carnegie Mellon University has a strong reputation for excellence in both music and theatre, with faculty who are committed to the students’ growth, both personally and professionally. In addition to the required courses, students have opportunities throughout the year to attend master classes given by visiting artists from Broadway and beyond.
How hard is it to get into Carnegie Mellon musical theatre?
To get into Carnegie Mellon Musical Theatre, you have to be the best—some of the most talented and successful people in the industry are CMU graduates. It’s no wonder that its acceptance rate is lower than other schools with musical theatre majors and minors. But don’t worry! You can still apply to CMU with a chance of getting in.
Take a look at our guide on how hard it is to get into Carnegie Mellon Musical Theatre for more information about applying, or check out some common questions about applying here!
A deeper look at the musical theatre acceptance rate
CMU’s musical theatre acceptance rate is low compared to other universities.
The average acceptance rate for all schools is 38%. CMU’s acceptance rate is 30%. This makes it one of the most selective colleges for musical theatre.
The reality of majoring in musical theater
If you love musical theater, Carnegie Mellon is likely not the right choice for you. While many people who apply to CMU want to major in musical theater, only a small percentage of applicants get accepted. This means that most people who apply don’t actually end up getting into the program—and those who do often change their minds and pursue other areas of study after they arrive on campus.
If you’re considering going to CMU but aren’t sure if it’s right for you, talk to current students about their experiences with their programs before making your decision. By talking directly with students at Carnegie Mellon, you’ll be able to ask specific questions about their classes and professors as well as learn more about life on campus.
Most universities don’t offer a major in musical theater, and CMU declines most applicants.
Most universities don’t offer a major in musical theater, and CMU declines most applicants.
CMU has a higher acceptance rate than other universities.
CMU has a lower acceptance rate than other universities.
Conclusion
Many aspiring actors dream of majoring in musical theater, but only a select few get to see those dreams come true. In addition to being an incredibly competitive program, Carnegie Mellon University’s musical theater program requires applicants to have above-average grades and test scores as well. If you’re looking for another way into the world of musical theater, you may want to look into acting or dance programs at other universities, as well as performing arts high schools.
