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Carnegie Mellon University
Integrated Innovation Institute

Engineering + Design + Business

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Integrated Innovation Institute  ›  Admissions  ›  Apply to Online Degree & Certificates

Admissions: Online Degree & Certificates

online student participates in an online zoom session

World-class education, wherever you are.

Designed with the working professional in mind, our online programs offer a flexible learning structure that allows you to go to school and continue to work full time.

The stackable online certificates are offered on a rotational schedule, while students can start the MIIPS Online degree every semester.

Getting started is easy— complete your application in minutes and receive an admissions decision in days.

tbd

Upcoming Virtual Events

Online Applications are always open, with rolling admission cycles

Current Admission Cycle:
Deadline for Summer 2025

              application icon

Application Deadline:
April 1, 2025  

          application deadline

Enrolled Deadline:
April 15, 2025

       enrolled deadline icon
Admissions Toolkit:
Learn How to Apply

       admissions toolkit

Summer 2025

Application Deadline:
April 1, 2025

Enrolled Deadline:
April 15, 2025

classes start: 
mid-May

Certificates being offered:

methods and tools certificate blue iconMethods & Tools for Product Innovation
new product management icon orangeNew Product Management

Fall 2025

Application Deadline:
July 15, 2025

Enrolled Deadline:
August 1, 2025

classes start:
late-August

Certificates being offered:

technology for product management icon greenTechnology for Product Management
product design innovation icon purpleProduct Design Innovation

Spring 2026

Application Deadline:
December 1, 2025

Enrolled Deadline:
December 15, 2025

classes start: 
mid-January

Certificates being offered:

methods and tools certificate blue iconMethods & Tools for Product Innovation
new product management icon orangeNew Product Management
*Subject to Change. Final certificate schedules will be released prior to each application cycle. 

Am I a Good Fit?

Highly qualified candidates demonstrate a passion for product & service development, innovation, or entrepreneurship.

They are comfortable with ambiguity, want to collaborate with individuals outside of their discipline, learn best in a "learn-by-doing" environment, and wish to continue their education in a flexible, online environment. 

  • Engineering (all types)
  • Design (including fine arts, architecture, UX/UI & HCI)
  • Business (including economics)
  • Communications
  • Psychology 
The ideal candidate will hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or equivalent from an accredited institution (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc., Higher Learning Commission, or U.S. Dept. of Education).
Online program applicants typically have eight to ten years of professional experience, however, that is an average and not a requirement for application.

Your Program. Your Pace.

Complete the MIIPS online degree in as quickly as five semesters or extend up to nine semesters. You determine the pace and may change it during your studies — speeding up or slowing down when you need to.

Traditional Degree Process

Accelerated Degree Process

Extended Degree PROCESS

Connect with Current Online Students

Learn firsthand what makes our Online Program unique, challenging, and life-changing by speaking with a student.

image of Sofia Zertuche

Sofia Zertuche
(MIIPS Online '25)

  
Sofia is currently a Visual Design Manager for MAX at WBD. She has experience working with brands like the Oscars, UEFA Champions League, Barbie, and more!

She's currently pursuing the MIIPS Masters degree and plans to graduate May 2025.

hedy wang headshot

Hedy Wang
(MIIPS Online '25)

Hedy is currently a UX Research Consultant at IBM. She has experience working on user research, design strategy, and product innovation across various industries.

She's currently pursuing the MIIPS Master's degree and plans to graduate in Dec 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Athena Huether, Head of Graduate Enrollment & Associate Director of Admissions at the iii, answers frequently asked questions about the iii's online certificate programs and MIIPS online degree in this video playlist.

For additional information, visit the FAQ page. 

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition Rates: 2024-2025

Program

Tuition

iii Online Certificate (20 units)

$11,600

Per Course Tuition

$5,800

Online MIIPS Degree (102 units)

4 certificates + Capstone Course 

$59,136*

2024-25 Student Fees: $235 per semester (technology fee)

  • *Indicates the estimated total tuition. Actual cost will vary as degree-seeking students should plan to complete the program in 2 or more academic years.
  • Official rate for the 2025-2026 academic year will be released in Spring 2025.
  • All students are billed per unit rate, regardless of the degree progress status.


Tuition Rates: 2025-2026

Program

Tuition

iii Online Certificate (20 units)

$12,157

Per Course Tuition

$6,078

Online MIIPS Degree (102 units)

4 certificates + Capstone Course 

$62,000*

2025-26 Student Fees: $240 per semester (technology fee)

  • *Indicates the estimated total tuition. Actual cost will vary as degree-seeking students should plan to complete the program in 2 or more academic years.
  • Official rate for the 2026-2027 academic year will be released in Spring 2026.
  • All students are billed per unit rate, regardless of the degree progress status.

Student Fees

All CMU students are charged a Technology Fee per semester. Learn more about  CMU Student Fees.  

Financial Resources

Self Funding & Payment Options

Students enrolled in professional programs at CMU are primarily self-funded. The MIIPS Online Degree is eligible for federal financial aid loans.

More information is available here:

iii Online Certificate programs are not eligible for federal financial aid loans.

Explore private loan options and payment plans on the Student Financial Services website.

Part-time students could consider Employer Tuition Benefits to help cover their costs. Check out Abound.college for more resources to start a conversation with your employer.

Student Consumer Information

Carnegie Mellon University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Visit CMU's Consumer Information page for more about the University's accreditation and state authorizations.

admissions toolkit icon  Your Admissions Toolkit

Ready to apply?

Applicants are highly encouraged to only submit one application per cycle. If you would like to change your application format after starting, please contact the Admissions Team, admissions-iii@nbzhiai.com.

Connect directly with admissions.

certificate star icon  Certificate Applications

Apply for an individual, stackable certificate in three easy steps:

To get started, create an account in our online application system via Carnegie Mellon's College of Engineering. Once you've created your account, the system will email you a PIN. This PIN and your password allow you to save your application over several sessions. You can also log in to monitor the status of your application and view your admissions decision.
Unofficial transcripts are sufficient to render an admission decision. A bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required. 

Official transcripts will be requested upon enrollment, which may be submitted in the following ways:
  1. Mailing directly to the Integrated Innovation Institute's Pittsburgh address.
  2. Sending electronically via an official parchment service (e.g. Parchment.com). When using these services, please send them to admissions-iii@nbzhiai.com.
  3. Via a credential evaluation service - Required for certain transcripts*

All international and United States permanent resident applicants must take an English language proficiency exam. This is required as a component in determining academic success in the program. The scores must be received by the application deadline for the semester in which students are applying. An English language proficiency test is not required if the applicant will have graduated from a US university by the time of enrollment or if the applicant is a CMU student or alum. It is also not required for applicants with United Kingdom, Canadian, or Australian citizenship. The following forms of English language proficiency assessments are accepted:

TOEFL – minimum score 95 with no sub-score below a 23

Institution Code: 2074

Department Code: 99 (Other)

IELTS – minimum score of 6.5

We accept electronic IELTS scores only, using the physical address to confirm the right college/department.

Please contact your IELTS testing center and request that your scores be sent to:

Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering

431 Hamerschlag Drive

ANSYS Hall Suite 250

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

United States

Duolingo English Test – minimum score of 105

Select "CMU – College of Engineering"

degree cert icon  MIIPS Online Degree Applications

In addition to steps 1 through 2 above, complete the following:

When applying for the MIIPS Online degree, please include your most recent professional resume or curriculum vitae.

When applying for the MIIPS Online degree, please include two professional and/or academic references. Each reference will automatically be emailed a link to submit a letter of recommendation directly to our online system. 

Rather than a Statement of Purpose, we require written responses to our short essay prompts within the application itself.
When applying for the MIIPS Online degree, the video platform gives our admissions committee the opportunity to learn more about you beyond the written materials you have provided. You are required to answer one question; the questions are randomized and are not something that you should prepare for.

When applying for the MIIPS Online degree, the portfolio is an opportunity to tell us your story. Showcase three to six projects that best illustrate your skills, talents, and interests. Your examples should speak to your problem-solving abilities, visualization skills, and overall level of craftsmanship. In each project, please briefly describe and summarize your contributions.

We accept photographs, drawings, or interactive presentations. Please submit your portfolio as a PDF to our online application system (Max: 20 pages).

Want pointers on how to approach the portfolio? Kyle Caruso, a current MIIPS online student, shares his tips:

After you create an online account in our system, you will be prompted to pay a non-refundable fee of $75 by either credit card or debit card.

An Online Student's Perspective

Julie Wagner (MIIPS Online ’24) illustrates how she applied her classroom learnings directly into entrepreneurship, founding a company inspired by a class project.

Marciano Bagnoli (MIIPS Online ’23), shares how stacking certificates to obtain a master’s degree allowed him to experiment with a career change before fully committing to a new industry.

iii Online student, Menelik Lewis, shares his experience in the program.

Learn More about the iii Online Experience