Carnegie Mellon University AI Policy for College Applications
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at Carnegie Mellon University?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: Line-level editing allowed
- •Heinz College Graduate Programs: AI use prohibited
- •Entertainment Technology Center: AI use prohibited
Last verified: 2025-09-18 • Confidence: High
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“AI should never replace your unique voice, experiences and personal expression”
— Undergraduate Admission FAQ - Carnegie Mellon(Updated: 2024)
“You should not use artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, to write any portion of your essay”
— Heinz College Admissions(Updated: 2024)
Program-Specific Policies
Heinz College Graduate Programs
“Submission of false, plagiarized or AI-generated material may result in automatic denial”
— View source(Updated: 2024)
Applies to: application essays
Entertainment Technology Center
“You should not use ChatGPT or any other AI tools to generate responses”
— View source(Updated: 2024)
Applies to: application responses
Specific Guidelines
✓ Allowed Uses
- •grammar and spelling checks
- •suggested structural improvements
- •vocabulary improvements
✗ Not Allowed
- •writing any portion of essays
- •content generation
- •idea generation beyond editing
Policy Summary by Program
Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
---|---|---|---|
General/Undergraduate | Line-level editing allowed | No disclosure required | E2 • Uses screening tools |
Heinz College Graduate Programs | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E3 • Formal verification required |
Entertainment Technology Center | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E2 • Uses screening tools |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (5)
Additional Context
CMU allows limited AI use for undergraduate applications (editing only) but graduate programs vary significantly. Heinz College completely prohibits AI with automatic denial threats. University actively detects AI-generated content and warns against plagiarism risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Carnegie Mellon University allow ChatGPT for essays?
Carnegie Mellon University allows limited AI use for editing and improving your own writing. AI can help with grammar, clarity, and sentence-level edits, but you must write the core content yourself.
Do I need to disclose AI use to Carnegie Mellon University?
Carnegie Mellon University does not require disclosure of AI use in admissions materials.
How does Carnegie Mellon University check for AI?
Carnegie Mellon University uses AI detection tools and screening software to identify potential AI-generated content in applications.
Which Carnegie Mellon University programs have different AI policies?
Heinz College Graduate Programs, Entertainment Technology Center have specific policies that differ from the general university policy. Programs that prohibit AI entirely: Heinz College Graduate Programs, Entertainment Technology Center.
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