Is Carnegie Mellon or the University of Washington harder to get into as an out-of-state applicant?

For an out-of-state applicant, Carnegie Mellon is typically harder to get into overall because it is highly selective across its undergraduate colleges and does not give applicants an in-state residency advantage. The University of Washington is a public university with a stronger obligation to serve Washington residents, so nonresidents face a smaller share of available places.

At Carnegie Mellon, your state of residence is not a meaningful admissions factor in the way it is at a public university. The key variable is the specific college or program: School of Computer Science, design, drama, and several engineering paths are notably more selective than some other Carnegie Mellon undergraduate options. An out-of-state student is assessed alongside applicants nationally rather than being disadvantaged for living outside Pennsylvania.

At UW, residency matters more at the university level. Washington residents receive priority in the admissions process, and out-of-state applicants must present a particularly compelling academic record and overall application to earn one of the comparatively limited nonresident spots. Admission to UW also does not guarantee entry into every major; programs with separate or direct-admission structures can add another layer of competition.