Carnegie Mellon University AI Policy for College Applications

General Policy:L2Line-level editing allowedD0No disclosure requiredE2Uses screening tools
Important:Some programs have stricter policies - see details below

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

L4AI use prohibitedD0No disclosure requiredE3Formal verification required

Submission of false, plagiarized or AI-generated material may result in automatic denial

View source(Updated: 2024)

Applies to: application essays

Entertainment Technology Center

L4AI use prohibitedD0No disclosure requiredE2Uses screening tools

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

ProgramAI Allowed?DisclosureEnforcement
General/UndergraduateLine-level editing allowedNo disclosure requiredE2Uses screening tools
Heinz College Graduate ProgramsAI use prohibitedNo disclosure requiredE3Formal verification required
Entertainment Technology CenterAI use prohibitedNo disclosure requiredE2Uses screening tools

Sources Verified

All sources checked (5)
Confidence: HighLast verified: 2025-09-18

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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