Skip to main content
CMU Rales Fellows Program

Two Carnegie Mellon students sitting in Tepper Quad, working on their laptops.

CMU Rales Program Application & Eligibility

Join the Nation's Most Talented STEM Students 

The CMU Rales Fellows Program is open to those who are:

  • Enrolling in full-time, in-person, eligible graduate programs on CMU’s Pittsburgh campus
  • Committed to pursuing graduate STEM education and enrichment in select masters or doctoral programs in the College of Engineering, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mellon College of Science, or School of Computer Science 
  • Preparing for success in their chosen post-graduate careers across a broad range of opportunities

Rales Fellows Eligibility

  1. U.S. Citizenship, Permanent Resident or DACA Recipient 
  2. Applying to eligible, graduate STEM degree program on CMU’s Pittsburgh campus 
  3. Underrepresented in a STEM discipline including, but not limited to, socioeconomic status*, first-generation to attend college+ or prior attendance at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institution or Minority-Serving Institution (MSI)#

Application for 2025 Rales Candidacy is Open

Apply Now

Rales Application Process & Timeline

September 1

Rales Program Candidacy Application Opens

December 15*

Rales Program Candidacy M.S. and Ph.D. Priority Review Deadline

March–April

Semifinalist and Finalist Notifications

April 15

Intent to Enroll Deadline

*Candidates must meet the application deadline and requirements of the specific program(s) to which they are applying.

Submitting Your Application

The Rales Fellow Candidacy Applications open for the following fall enrollment entry term on September 1.

How to apply:

  1. Apply to Rales-eligible CMU academic graduate program(s)
  2. Complete the separate CMU Rales Fellow Candidacy Application

Students must apply to their Rales-eligible program of interest and also directly to the Rales Fellow Program. Students admitted to a Rales-eligible program who have also submitted the Rales Fellow Candidacy Application will then be considered for Rales Fellow selection.

Application Requirements

The purpose of the Rales Fellow Candidacy Application is to formally declare candidacy for the Rales Fellows Program and to express alignment with the program goals.

Candidates are asked to express their alignment with the program in two ways:

  1. Short essays that demonstrate your personal qualities, lived experiences and passions for STEM and inclusion.
  2. Letter of recommendation that demonstrates your commitment to goals and unique character traits.

Is the CMU Rales Fellows Program Right for Me?

Complete our short quiz to determine whether the Rales Fellows Program is right for you. Eligible candidates may complete the Rales Application to be considered for the program.

Take the Eligibility Quiz

How Rales Cohorts are Selected 

A flowchart that shows how and when eligible graduate students are selected to become Rales Fellows. Students must first apply for an eligible CMU graduate program and apply for the CMU Rales Fellow Candidacy. Semi-finalists are those that have been accepted to their graduate program.

In order to be considered as a Rales Fellow Candidate, you must first apply for an eligible CMU graduate program and apply for the CMU Rales Fellow Candidacy. To become a semi-finalist, you must be accepted to your graduate program.

Semi-finalists and finalists are notified between February and April.

Rales-Eligible Graduate Departments

More than 120 CMU STEM graduate programs are eligible for the Rales Fellows Program within the College of Engineering, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mellon College of Science, and School of Computer Science, including 85 master’s degrees and 38 doctoral degrees.

*Considerations relevant to socioeconomic status determination: 1) Did you receive the Federal Pell Grant as an undergraduate student? 2) Did you qualify for need-based aid as an undergraduate student? 3) Do you have more than $23,000 in student loans? 4) Is your annual family income less than $135,000?

+First-generation students are the first in their family to attend college, their parents received an associate degree, or they attended a 4-year college/university but did not graduate.

#Current listing of designated institutions

Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry, belief, veteran status or genetic information. Furthermore, Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate and is required not to discriminate in violation of federal, state or local laws or executive orders.

Inquiries concerning the application of and compliance with this statement should be directed to the Office for Institutional Equity and Title IX, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, telephone 412-268-7125.