Carnegie Mellon CS Scholars and AI Scholars

CMU CS/AI Scholars at a Glance

Host

Carnegie Mellon University Pre-College Programs

Field

CS Scholars: Python programming and the math behind computing. AI Scholars: foundational computing and artificial intelligence, plus group projects led by CMU faculty and graduate students. Both include research exposure, visits to tech companies and a college essay workshop

Grades and age

CS Scholars: in 10th grade at the time of application (between 10th and 11th grade in summer 2027). AI Scholars: in 11th grade at the time of application (between 11th and 12th grade). Both require students to be 16 by June 26, 2027

Citizenship and residency

US citizens or permanent residents with a current green card only. Neither program requires coding experience. Both strongly encourage applicants raised in homes where English was a second language, attending high schools with historically low admission rates to top-tier institutions, who are first-generation college students, or who come from lower-income families.

Cost

Fully funded, covering tuition, housing, meal plans and select program activities; families cover travel, with limited travel assistance for those facing transportation barriers. Students cannot pay their own way; applicants submit tax documents or a NACAC Application Fee Waiver signed by the high school guidance department, and financial need is one factor in admission.

Dates and format

Both programs run four weeks, residential only in CMU dorms, June 26 to July 24, 2027. Classes, group projects, lectures and company visits run Monday through Friday, 9 am to 6 pm, ending with a public capstone symposium on the final day. AI Scholars adds a virtual Python course about a month before arrival. Concurrent summer programs are not allowed, and asynchronous online courses need prior approval.

Application dates

Both programs close on February 1, 2027, with decisions released April 1, 2027. CS Scholars who complete the program and want to continue may be invited to AI Scholars the following summer.

Application materials

Online application; unofficial transcript; optional test scores, though at least one (SAT, PSAT, ACT, AP or ACT Aspire) is strongly encouraged; two recommendations, one from a teacher (preferably STEM) and one from a school counselor, community organization advisor or other adult mentor who is not a relative or friend; an essay of 300 to 500 words on what the student hopes to gain, plus further prompts in the application; financial documentation.

Size and selectivity

Carnegie Mellon does not publish application counts, the number admitted or admission rates for either program. A June 2026 CMU news story says Pre-College as a whole invites around 800 students to campus each year, without a per-program breakdown.

Verified against official pages on 2026-10-06 · cmu.edu/pre-college/academic-programs/ai_scholars.html

How to Apply to CMU CS/AI Scholars

• CS Scholars takes 10th graders and AI Scholars takes 11th graders, so a student can apply in consecutive years. CS Scholars who complete the program and want to continue may be invited straight into AI Scholars.
• The programs serve students who lack access or resources, which can mean financial need, a lack of computer science courses in the district, or a lack of stable internet or computing devices. If any of these applies, describe it specifically in the essays.
• Test scores are optional, but at least one is strongly encouraged; a PSAT or AP score counts.