How to Get Into Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College CS Scholars Program: 2027 Guide

Updated October 2026

TL;DR

Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College CS Scholars Program is a free, four-week computer science program at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh for high schoolers who are in 10th grade now. The 2027 program runs June 26 to July 24; the application deadline is February 1, 2027, and decisions come out April 1, 2027. CMU covers tuition, housing, meals, and select field trips, and it chooses people who show financial need or a lack of access to computer science resources. You must be 16 by June 26, 2027, and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and you do not need to know how to code. This guide covers the details and gives you eight steps to build a strong application. If you want a mentored research project instead, the Horizon Academic Research Program is one option.

If you enjoy solving problems, experimenting with code, or wondering how computer science can be used to tackle real-world challenges, Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College CS Scholars Program may be worth exploring. Over four weeks on campus in Pittsburgh, you’ll study programming and mathematics, work on group projects, learn from faculty and industry professionals, and experience aspects of college life. The program is fully funded for selected students, making it an opportunity to explore computer science without paying program tuition, housing, or meal costs. From checking the eligibility requirements to preparing your essays and recommendations, this guide walks you through what to know before applying. For other free options to compare it with, see our list of free computer science programs for high school students.

What is CMU’s CS Scholars program?

CS Scholars is a fully funded, merit-based program for rising juniors who are interested in computer science. It is one of the programs run by Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College Programs. Over four weeks, you take college-level courses, work on group research projects, and learn from faculty, graduate students, and leaders from tech companies. Sponsors cover the cost, so you never pay tuition.

What are the key facts for 2027?

All of these come from the official CS Scholars page. CMU also holds recorded presentations and Q&A sessions if you want to ask a question before you apply.

Are you eligible for CS Scholars?

You need to meet three rules from CMU’s eligibility requirements:

• You are at least 16 years old by June 26, 2027.
• You are a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident with a current green card.
• You are in 10th grade when you submit your application, so you are between 10th and 11th grade in summer 2027.

Beyond that, CMU looks for a strong interest in computer science. Every eligible applicant is welcome, and CMU strongly encourages people who are underrepresented in STEM to apply. Its examples include being raised in a home where English was a second language, attending a high school with historically low rates of admission to top colleges, being the first in your family to go to college, and living in a household that qualifies for public assistance or free or reduced lunch.

Do you need to show financial need to apply?

Yes, you submit documentation with your application. CMU’s financial need rules say you can send tax documents or a NACAC Application Fee Waiver signed by your guidance office. The program is fully funded, so need is one of several factors, and you cannot pay your own way in.

Money is not the only way to qualify. The program is for people who lack access or resources at home, at school, or in their community. That includes a school with no computer science classes or a home without steady internet or a computer. If that sounds like you, CMU strongly encourages you to apply and to email the team with questions.

What will you learn in four weeks?

The curriculum mixes courses, projects, and personal growth sessions.

In the classroom

• A Python programming course: You learn variables, functions, conditionals, loops, and basic data structures like lists and dictionaries. You also practice top-down design, testing, debugging, and algorithmic thinking.
• A mathematics course: You build the math skills that programming needs, and you question the belief that you “just aren’t a math person.”
• Talks with faculty and industry leaders: You hear how people use computer science in real careers.
• A look at research: Faculty and graduate students describe the projects they are working on.
• A writing workshop: You draft a personal statement and get feedback from instructors and peers.

Outside the classroom

• Group research projects: You tackle a real-world problem with your team, and faculty mentors guide you.
• Visits to tech companies: You meet professionals and ask about their work.
• A final symposium: On the last day, you present your project in public.
• College prep seminars: Each week covers topics like admissions, financial aid, and emotional well-being.
• Group mentoring: You meet with CMU faculty and graduate students.

What does a normal weekday look like?

Classes, lectures, projects, workshops, and field trips run Monday to Friday from about 9 a.m. until between 5 and 6 p.m. Evenings can include office hours, homework, group study, and social events. Weekends are free for field trips, campus clubs, or a walk around Pittsburgh.

You live in a CMU dorm for all four weeks. CMU does not allow you to join another summer program at the same time, whether it is online or in person, and you cannot miss class or project time for other plans. In some cases, CMU may approve an asynchronous online course ahead of time.

What does CS Scholars cost?

The program is fully funded. The funding covers tuition, housing, meal plans, and selected program-related field trips and special events.

Limited travel assistance is available for families facing transportation barriers, but it is not automatically guaranteed to every participant. If you would need financial help getting to Pittsburgh, contact the program team early to ask what assistance may be available.

For the university’s broader pre-college cost and scholarship information, see the official cost and financial aid page.

Do you need to show financial need to apply?

Yes. You must submit documentation of financial need with your application. The official requirements allow tax documents or a completed NACAC Application Fee Waiver signed by the appropriate high school guidance office.

Financial need is one factor in the program’s holistic review, rather than the only consideration. CS Scholars is also designed to expand access for students who have had limited opportunities to study computer science, use reliable computing devices, or access stable internet at home, at school, or in their community. If these barriers describe your experience, explain them honestly in your application and contact the program team if you are unsure which documentation to submit.

How hard is it to get into CS Scholars?

CS Scholars is competitive. It reviews your whole application and chooses people using a mix of factors, including financial need. It does not publish an acceptance rate. The application asks for two recommendations and several essays, which also means it takes real effort to finish.

What do past attendees say?

Ren L., who attended in 2025, called CS Scholars “one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.” Ren describes engaging classes, teachers who made learning fun, and leaving more confident and connected. A parent from 2023 described the program as a life-changing first look at college life for their son, and praised how well the weekends were planned.

8 tips to get accepted to CS Scholars

Use these steps to build a strong application.

1. Check the three eligibility rules first. Confirm that you will be 16 by June 26, 2027, that you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and that you are in 10th grade now. If any rule does not fit, you will save time by knowing early.
2. Start the financial-need paperwork early. Ask your guidance office about the required documentation, or begin collecting the appropriate tax documents well before the deadline. This gives you time to resolve questions about signatures, eligibility, or which form to submit.
3. Choose recommenders who can speak to your readiness. You need two recommendations: one from a teacher, preferably in a STEM subject, and another from a counselor, community organization advisor, or adult mentor who can discuss your preparation for the program. Ask early, explain why you want to attend, and give each recommender enough time to submit the form before the deadline.
4. Answer the essay with one specific story. CMU asks what you hope to gain from its pre-college programs, in 300 to 500 words, and adds more prompts inside the application. Pick one real moment, such as a problem you wanted to solve, and say what you learned from it. A small, honest example is stronger than a big claim.
5. Tell your access story plainly. If your school has no computer science class, or you do not have a reliable computer or internet, say so. CMU designed the program for people in that position, and it wants to hear what that has been like for you.
6. Show curiosity about computing. A project you tried, a question you chased, or a class you stuck with shows your interest better than a list of activities. For more ideas on how to build a strong profile, read our guide on how to get into a top high school research program.
7. Send a test score if you have one. Scores are optional, but CMU strongly encourages at least one result from an SAT, PSAT, ACT, AP exam, or ACT Aspire.
8. Submit early and ask questions. Finish at least a week before February 1, 2027. If something is unclear, attend a Q&A session or email the CS Scholars team, as the official page invites you to.

What are the strengths and drawbacks?

Strengths

• No cost for tuition, housing, or meals: Money does not block you from applying.
• College-level coursework: You work with real programming and math.
• Hands-on learning: You build skills through group projects and a public presentation.
• Industry exposure: Visits and talks show you what tech careers look like.
• A university known for computer science: You learn from CMU faculty and see campus life.

Drawbacks

• It is competitive: Not everyone who applies gets in.
• The application is long: You need two recommendations, several essays, and financial documents.
• It is a full commitment: You spend four weeks on campus with no other program.
• It is built for people with limited access: Check that your situation matches what CMU describes.

Is CS Scholars right for you?

CS Scholars fits you if you are interested in computer science and want a taste of college life. It is a strong choice if you come from a family with financial need or you face limits on access at school or in your community. If you like project-based work, advanced coursework, and meeting industry professionals, you will likely enjoy it.

It may be a poor fit if you want to run your own research project on your own schedule, or if you cannot spend four weeks away from home without other commitments.

Which Carnegie Mellon pre-college program fits your grade?

CMU runs several fully funded programs, and your grade when you apply decides which one you can try. Check each page for current dates and rules.

For more programs, see our lists of computer science programs for high school students and tech programs for high school students.

One more option: the Horizon Academic Research Program

If you want a research experience shaped around your goals, your focus, and your level, consider the Horizon Academic Research Program. It is a selective online program where you do advanced research and write a paper on a subject of your choice. You can also read our list of competitive STEM programs for high school students to compare more options.

Questions to ask before you apply to CS Scholars

Image source: Carnegie Mellon University