Master's in Privacy Engineering
The world's first and foremost master's degree program dedicated entirely to privacy engineering.
Privacy is not dead, but our current state of privacy is less than ideal. Data breaches reveal just how much information is collected about all of us, while privacy policies are flimsy, obscure or unreadable. These trends impact the bottom line: users are losing trust in the services they use daily and regulators are doling out billions of dollars in fines.
At Carnegie Mellon University, we've spent decades at the forefront of privacy research. Our master's programs in privacy engineering give you the skills you need to identify and resolve privacy challenges in modern software systems.
Two Master's Programs. On Your Schedule.
Master's in Privacy Engineering
Full-time, in Pittsburgh, 12 or 16 months
We designed this program for computer scientists and engineers who want to make a meaningful impact as privacy engineers or technical privacy managers. You'll spend either 16 months (with an internship) or 12 months (no internship) on our Pittsburgh campus and engage in a capstone project, where you'll solve real-world privacy challenges for an outside sponsor. Past capstone sponsors include Meta, Netflix, Microsoft and more.
Master's in Privacy Technology and Policy
Part-time, fully remote, flexible timeline
Have a full-time job and want to keep it? This program is for you! Our part-time master's accommodates students who are employed and want to stay that way. You'll have remote access to the exact same classes as full-time students, giving you the flexibility of attending live courses or watching lectures at your convenience, from wherever you call home.
"The Privacy Engineering program will equip you, as it has me, to grapple with the ever-changing legal landscape in privacy while at the same time arming you with a tool-kit of deep privacy engineering fundamentals. You are ready to start making a difference from day-one. If you are at all interested in a technical career in information privacy, this is the program for you."
Why CMU? And Why Privacy Engineering?
CMU faculty are internationally recognized leaders who influence ongoing research and offer a wealth of expertise through their work in industry, government and research. Their expertise spans countless specialties, from AI and privacy to cybersecurity.
Our students' skills are in high demand and our graduates earn competitive salaries at the biggest technology companies in the world. In fact, according to the International Association of Privacy Professionals, the average salary for a privacy engineer is $136,000, and that of a privacy technologist with certification comes in at more than $170,000. As the only privacy engineering program in the world, our graduates have an unbeatable edge in this fast-growing market.
Learn more about how privacy engineering can catapult your career
Frequently Asked Questions
Featured Faculty and Alumni
Privacy by Design: Shaping Tomorrow's Privacy Leaders
CMU’s Privacy Engineering Program, led by pioneers like Lorrie Cranor and Norman Sadeh, equips students with the technical, legal, and ethical skills to tackle today’s privacy challenges. With a focus on real-world applications and privacy by design, graduates are leading the way in safeguarding data in an evolving digital landscape...
Privacy Alumni Feature: Dhanuja Shaji
CMU Privacy Engineering alumna Dhanuja Shaji wants you to know that the field of privacy engineering is exploding. Worried about finding a great job after graduation? Don’t, she says. Learn more about Dhanuja’s journey and why a privacy engineering degree from CMU will have the biggest names in tech coming to you, instead of the other way around.
Let's Talk!
We strive to provide comprehensive information for our prospective applicants, but we understand that you may still have questions. If there's anything you'd like to know, feel free to reach out using the button below and we'll respond as soon as possible.