Carnegie Mellon Entertainment Technology Center
- Acceptance Rate
- 65.0%
- SAT Range
- 1050–1250
- ACT Range
- N/A
- Avg GPA
- 3.25
- Size
- N/A
- Type
- N/A
- Student:Faculty
- N/A
- Setting
- N/A
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- Retention Rate
- N/A
- Tuition (In-State)
- N/A
- Tuition (Int'l)
- N/A
Student Life & Environment
ETC students inhabit a unique space within Carnegie Mellon, physically located in a dedicated facility on the Pittsburgh campus that functions as both classroom and studio. The building's open layout encourages collaboration and spontaneous interaction, with project team spaces, common areas, and specialized laboratories creating an environment where work and social life intermingle. The intensive project schedule, typically requiring 50-60 hours weekly of focused work, structures student life around team commitments and production deadlines. The program's cohort structure creates strong bonds, as students navigate shared challenges and celebrate collective achievements. Social events including game nights, film screenings, and informal gatherings provide breaks from production intensity. Housing typically means off-campus apartments in Pittsburgh neighborhoods such as Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, or Oakland. Rent ranges from $900 to $1,400 monthly for one-bedroom units, with shared housing reducing costs. The ETC building's 24/7 access means some students spend more waking hours at the facility than at home, particularly during project crunch periods. International students compose approximately 50 percent of typical cohorts, with strong representation from Asian countries including China, South Korea, and India. This diversity enriches projects with varied cultural perspectives while creating supportive communities within the program. English language demands are intensive, as production environments require constant communication. The program attracts students at various career stages, from recent undergraduates to mid-career professionals seeking transitions into entertainment technology. This age and experience diversity contributes different perspectives to teams while sometimes creating varied expectations about work intensity and social engagement. Career services through CMU supplement ETC-specific industry connections and alumni networking.
Location & Surroundings
Pittsburgh provides a surprisingly strong location for entertainment technology education, combining Carnegie Mellon's engineering excellence with an emerging technology sector and affordable living. The city's transformation from steel industry decline to technology and healthcare hub has created an innovative environment where startups and established companies coexist. The ETC's Pittsburgh campus occupies a building adjacent to Carnegie Mellon's main campus, accessible via walking or short bus rides from nearby neighborhoods. The campus location provides access to university resources while the ETC maintains its distinctive culture and facilities. Silicon Valley students benefit from that region's industry concentration but pay substantially higher living costs. Pittsburgh's climate features cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Students arriving from warmer regions often find the November through March period challenging, with limited daylight and frequent gray skies. The city's topography of hills and bridges creates a distinctive landscape but complicates transportation. Cost of living remains Pittsburgh's major advantage, with housing, dining, and entertainment substantially cheaper than coastal technology hubs. This differential stretches student budgets further and reduces post-graduation debt burdens. The city's food scene has improved dramatically, with diverse dining options from authentic ethnic restaurants to innovative contemporary establishments. Cultural amenities include Carnegie Museums, an active theater scene, and professional sports in football, baseball, and hockey. The surrounding region offers outdoor recreation including hiking and skiing within reasonable driving distance. Philadelphia lies five hours east, and Washington, D.C. four hours southeast, providing weekend trip options. The entertainment industry presence in Pittsburgh has grown through initiatives including Schell Games, a major game development studio founded by ETC faculty Jesse Schell. Internship and employment opportunities within the region supplement the stronger pipelines to major entertainment centers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Costs & Career Outcomes
The Master of Entertainment Technology requires substantial financial investment, with tuition currently exceeding $50,000 annually for the two-year program. Including living expenses, total costs approach $150,000 for the Pittsburgh campus and exceed that amount for Silicon Valley. Financial aid options include merit scholarships, graduate assistantships, and federal loans. Merit scholarships, awarded based on application strength, range from partial to full tuition coverage. Graduate assistantships in university departments provide tuition benefits and stipends while offering professional experience. Federal loan programs serve as the primary funding source for many students, with average debt at graduation often exceeding $100,000. Career outcomes demonstrate strong return on investment despite high costs. Employment rates within three months of graduation consistently exceed 95 percent, with graduates placed in roles across the entertainment technology industry. Major game companies including Electronic Arts, Riot Games, Blizzard, and Microsoft recruit actively from the program. Starting salaries vary by role and location but typically range from $80,000 to $120,000 for technical positions at major companies. Creative roles may start somewhat lower while producing positions can start higher. San Francisco and Seattle positions command premiums reflecting higher living costs, while Pittsburgh and other secondary markets offer more modest but still competitive compensation. Alumni career trajectories demonstrate significant advancement potential. Many ETC graduates have risen to director and vice president positions at major entertainment companies within a decade of graduation. Others have founded successful studios, launched innovative products, or transitioned to faculty positions at universities establishing similar programs. The entertainment technology industry's growth trajectory suggests continued strong demand for graduates with the interdisciplinary skills ETC develops. Emerging sectors including virtual reality, augmented reality, and interactive experiences create new opportunities beyond traditional games and film.
Campus Location
Explore More
See your match score for Carnegie Mellon Entertainment Technology Center
Find out how you compare to admitted students with a personalized admission assessment.
See your match score — Sign up free