How to Apply to Biology at Carnegie Mellon University: Apply to the Mellon College of Science, with Biological Sciences BS (Including a Neuroscience Track) and BA, Neuroscience and Degree Options, and Requirements for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

At Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), biology is taught by the Department of Biological Sciences, part of the Mellon College of Science (MCS). The admission page says you apply to one college within the university (only one), and biological sciences is on MCS’s list of programs. Chemistry and other majors are not covered here; medicine, nursing, pharmacy and similar programs are outside this article, so see the CMU website. Computational biology is listed under the School of Computer Science and is not covered either. Below is what CMU’s website says, for domestic students, international students (with a separate section for applicants from China) and transfer students. The university course catalog (coursecatalog.web.cmu.edu) is hosted by a third-party vendor and was not read, so check it for each degree’s required courses and the timing of declaring a major.

1. The degrees and programs

• BS in Biological Sciences: the admission page says it rests on a core curriculum exploring all aspects of biology, focusing studies on biological sciences with electives that include neurobiology, microbiology, cancer biology and more.
• BS in Biological Sciences, Neuroscience Track: the same course requirements as the BS in Biological Sciences, plus cellular neuroscience, systems neuroscience and advanced neural correlates of learning and memory.
• BA in Biological Sciences: the admission page says it combines an interest in science with interests in other disciplines across campus.
• BS in Neuroscience: a joint program of the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Mellon College of Science; the admission page mentions coursework such as cognitive modeling, learning in humans and machines, and neural signal processing. A Neuroscience minor also exists.
• BS in Biological Sciences and Psychology: an interdisciplinary blend of biology and psychology.
• Other programs: an additional major and dual degree in Biological Sciences; a Biological Sciences minor; the Bachelor of Science and Arts (see the website); the Health Professions Program, which advises students pursuing medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, genetic counseling and other health fields.
• Degree options (earned through advanced electives): the department site lists Biochemistry, Biophysics, Cell Biology, Computational Biology, Developmental Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology and Neuroscience; see the catalog for each option’s requirements.
• Accreditation: the pages read do not mention professional accreditation of the biology degrees; not published.
• Outcomes: the admission page prints: “Class of 2025, Six Months After Graduation: 88% Employed or in Grad School; $69,975 Average Salary.” The department says graduates pursue academic research, medicine, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sciences, and some go into law, science policy, technical writing and business management.

2. How admission works: apply to MCS; rules for declaring biology not published

• Which college: the biological sciences admission page says to submit your application for the Mellon College of Science; applicants may apply to only one college. The pages read do not say whether biological sciences has its own admission line within MCS; not published.
• Whether you pick a major and when: the pages read do not say whether MCS first-years must name biological sciences when applying, when students declare after enrolling, or any grade threshold or cap. This is not published, so ask admissions or the biological sciences undergraduate programs office.
• Advising after enrolling: the department says students get guidance from faculty advisors from the first day, and meeting an advisor at least once a semester is strongly encouraged. Before registering you submit your planned schedule to an advisor for approval; the maximum is 54 units, and overloads must be approved after registration. The department also offers graduate-school counseling (personal statement review, mock interviews).
• Internal transfer: conditions for moving into biological sciences are not on the pages read; not published.

3. Preparation

• High school courses (Mellon College of Science): 4 years of English; 4 years of mathematics (which the site says should include at least algebra, geometry, trigonometry, analytic geometry and elementary functions (pre-calculus) and preferably calculus, with advanced math encouraged, especially calculus); 1 year of chemistry; 1 year of physics; 1 year of biology; 2 years of a foreign language; and 3 electives. The site adds that high school performance (rigor of curriculum and grades) is one of the main factors in the decision.
• AP/IB credit for biology and related courses (CMU’s AP and IB credit charts, updated March 16, 2026; check the latest): the site says AP scores of 4 or 5 may earn placement and credit, IB credit is for Higher Level exams with 6 or 7 only, and each college decides how credit counts toward a degree. In the charts, AP Biology 4 maps to 03-011 (AP Biology, 9 units), with an optional attainment exam during Orientation week; students who pass receive credit for 03-121 instead of 03-011. AP Biology 5 maps to 03-110 (AP Biology). IB Biology HL 6 maps to 03-011 and 7 to 03-110 (General Biology). AP Chemistry 5 maps to 09-105 (Introduction to Modern Chemistry I, 10 units) and IB Chemistry HL 7 to 09-105. AP Calculus AB 5 maps to 21-120 and AP Calculus BC 5 to 21-120 and 21-122; IB Mathematics HL 6 maps to 21-120 and 7 to 21-120 and 21-122. Where these courses fall in the biology degree requirements was not read because the catalog was not read. The site also says engineering and science students awarded calculus credit who feel uncomfortable can take a lower course in the sequence, with credit adjusted accordingly.
• Limits on transfer credit for Modern Biology: the department says an outside course counts for 03-121 only if at least 80% of its topics match 03-121 and the textbook is at a comparable level; introductory courses focused on anatomy, physiology, ecology, evolution or development are not accepted for 03-121 but may receive general biology elective credit.
• First-year courses and labs: the required course and lab lists for the biology degrees are not on the pages read; see the catalog.
• Undergraduate research: the department says over 80% of students take part in undergraduate research, including research for credit and independent study. Faculty Research Focus Groups meet about monthly each semester to discuss primary literature, open to students of any year with no prior knowledge needed. The Summer Research Institute is for rising sophomores and covers molecular biology and biochemistry. The department also says study abroad participation continues to grow.
• Honors: the department describes an Honors Program in Research Biology that requires an independent project and a formal thesis written and defended in the senior year; it does not preclude any of the department’s options and is not the only way to do research. Entry conditions are not on the pages read; contact the undergraduate office.
• Competitions: how biology competitions are viewed in admissions is not on the pages read; not published.

4. Plans and materials (fall 2027 entry)

• Early Decision: due November 2, notification by December 15, enroll by February 1. Binding: if admitted you are expected to enroll, you sign an Early Decision Agreement and withdraw other applications, and you should not have a pending ED application elsewhere. Outcomes are admit, deny or defer to Regular Decision; if denied under ED you cannot reapply under Regular Decision.
• Regular Decision: due January 4, notification no later than April 1, enroll by May 1.
• The pages print no year, so confirm they apply to fall 2027 entry.
• Application fee: USD 75; fee waivers are accepted for students meeting an economic-need indicator on the Common App. Apply through the Common App.
• Essays: the Common App essay plus the CMU writing supplement (three short-answer questions).
• Recommendations: a secondary school counselor evaluation and one teacher recommendation; the pages do not say it must come from a science teacher. CMU does not accept supplemental submissions such as resumes, portfolios, recordings or websites, and accepts no applicant updates after January 15 (counselor updates are still accepted).
• Testing: the Mellon College of Science uses a “test flexible” policy: scores are required to complete the application, but you choose the type: SAT, ACT, IB (predicted or actual), AP, Cambridge A-Level (predicted or actual) or the French Baccalaureate (predicted or actual); predicted results must be followed by actual results if you are admitted and enroll. SAT results may be superscored; ACT cannot. The SAT code is 2074 and the ACT code 3534; CMU prefers testing be finished by November 1 for ED and January 3 for RD.
• Optional material: the site says a Schoolhouse.world certification portfolio is considered in holistic review, and students with certifications may take CMU placement exams in foundational STEM topics such as biology, chemistry, physics and calculus; those who pass may take more advanced courses.

5. Domestic students

• Tuition: The cost page does not split in-state and out-of-state. For 2026-2027, first-years entering fall 2026: tuition USD 69,702; for residents, housing 11,700, food 7,950, first-year experience fee 748, technology fee 490, student activities fee 322, transportation fee 302, subtotal 91,214; plus books 1,000, personal expenses 1,300 and estimated loan fees 100, for a total cost of attendance of USD 93,614 (commuters USD 78,620). Health insurance is also required, USD 3,093 per year in 2026-27, with a waiver for students covered elsewhere. Students entering in 2025 and earlier have a separate column. Figures for 2027 entry are not on the pages read.
• Aid: the site says students whose families make less than USD 75,000 a year attend tuition-free, students from families making less than USD 100,000 receive aid that does not include federal loans, and CMU commits to meeting 100% of demonstrated need for domestic students. A Net Price Calculator is offered. Application materials and deadlines are on the financial aid pages.
• Department scholarships: scholarships specific to the biological sciences department are not on the pages read; ask the department undergraduate office or check the university scholarship pages.
• Resident preference or guarantee: not on the pages read; not published.

6. International students

• Definition and process: CMU defines an international applicant as a citizen or permanent resident of a country other than the United States studying on a temporary visa; the application procedure and timetables are “essentially the same” as for US applicants. The site says international students were 19% of the undergraduate student body in 2024-2025.
• English tests: applicants whose native language is not English must submit official TOEFL, IELTS (or IELTS Online), Duolingo English Test or Cambridge English results no more than two years old. Required: IELTS overall 7.5; TOEFL iBT taken before January 21, 2026, overall 102 (subscores of 25 and above are given consideration), and for exams on or after January 21, 2026, overall 5 (subscores of 5 and above); TOEFL Essentials overall 11; Cambridge English 191; Duolingo 135 (integrated subscores of 135 and above are given consideration). For multiple TOEFL attempts CMU uses the set with the highest overall score and does not use MyBest.
• Other documents: use the exact name on your passport; transcripts in other languages need an official translation, verified by a counselor or school official; if you are preparing for IB or A-Levels, send expected results.
• Aid: the site says CMU does not offer financial aid to international students, who must plan to pay the total cost of attendance.
• Proof of funds: the international page read does not list a financial certification requirement; not published, so ask admissions.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages read do not say how Gaokao results are used; this is not published, so ask admissions.
• Interview: for non-native English speakers CMU recommends (but does not require) an InitialView or Vericant interview, saying such interviews can show readiness for classroom engagement, personality and the intended major.
• Testing and English: the same testing and English requirements as other international applicants; test-flexible options are in section 4.
• Transcripts and verification: non-English transcripts need an official translation verified by a counselor or school official. No China-specific credential evaluation or exam-certificate requirement is on the pages read.
• Any other China-specific guidance is not published on the pages read; ask admissions.

8. Transfer students

• General: CMU admits a small number of transfer students each year as space permits; policies vary by college. Transfer applicants are considered for only one college or program and must have completed a semester of college before applying.
• Deadlines: the two pages disagree. The plans and deadlines page gives a fall transfer deadline (all colleges except Fine Arts) of February 16, with all supporting documents due March 1, notification May 17 and enrollment by June 1; the transfer page gives an application deadline of February 15, supporting documents March 10, and notification by May 17. Neither prints a year; confirm fall 2027 entry with admissions.
• Materials: the Common App; high school and college transcripts; course descriptions for courses from each college attended (not the whole catalog); a professor or advisor recommendation instead of the counselor recommendation; the Common App College Report from your registrar or dean; no SAT or ACT is required; non-native English speakers still submit an English proficiency test with the same score requirements as international applicants.
• Credit: the college you are admitted to evaluates your courses, and you receive that evaluation with your decision letter.Biology-specific transfer requirements (GPA, prerequisite sequence): not on the pages read; not published, so ask admissions and the department. The 03-121 transfer-credit limits are in section 3.
• University housing is not guaranteed for transfer students.

Checklist

Domestic students:

• Apply through the Common App to the Mellon College of Science: ED November 2, RD January 4 (confirm the year)
• Four years of math (preferably with calculus) and one year each of biology, chemistry and physics, plus two years of a foreign language
• Test flexible: submit SAT, ACT, AP, IB or another listed option; counselor evaluation, one teacher recommendation, two essays
• After enrolling, ask the department about the degree, options and research

International students (including those from China):

• English: IELTS 7.5, TOEFL iBT 102 (old scale) or 5 (new scale), Duolingo 135 and so on; an InitialView or Vericant interview is recommended
• The site says no financial aid is offered to international students, so plan to pay the full cost
• Ask admissions how Gaokao results are used

Transfer students:

• At least one semester of college completed; apply by mid-February for fall entry (the two pages give different dates)
• Submit course descriptions and a professor recommendation; credit is evaluated after admission

Sources: Carnegie Mellon University, Undergraduate Admission: Biological Sciences; Mellon College of Science; Department of Biological Sciences; Biological Sciences undergraduate programs; Application plans and deadlines; Admission requirements; Academic requirements and college-level work; Standardized testing; International applicants; Transfer applicants; Costs and aid; 2026-2027 undergraduate tuition; AP and IB credit; AP credit chart (PDF); IB credit chart (PDF). Most deadlines on the admission pages print no year, and the tuition page shows figures for first-years entering in fall 2026; the pages read do not give 2027 entry figures. Check Carnegie Mellon for the latest details and confirm fall 2027 entry.