$1B investment comes to Carnegie Mellon University’s Pittsburgh campus

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(The Center Square) – Elected officials on both sides of the aisle in Pennsylvania are celebrating a historic investment made into one of the state’s elite universities. 

On Wednesday, Carnegie Mellon University, CMU, and Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin announced a $3 billion gift aimed at boosting the school in Pittsburgh, while also launching Carnegie Mellon University Miami.

According to the university, $1 billion will be invested in Pittsburgh’s campus, split evenly between flexible support for the university’s highest priorities and a $500 million investment in its School of Computer Science, which will be renamed the Kenneth C. Griffin School of Computer Science.

“Carnegie Mellon University has made profound contributions to America’s preeminence in science, engineering, technology, and the arts and humanities,” Griffin said. “Since its founding, Carnegie Mellon has fostered remarkable talent, pioneered scientific breakthroughs, and expanded the frontiers of research — shaping global leaders and innovators.”

U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican, previously served on CMU’s Board of Trustees and said he has long viewed the university as central to Pittsburgh’s transformation from the Steel City into a global hub for technology and innovation. 

“This extraordinary investment from my great friend Ken Griffin is a tremendous vote of confidence in CMU, in Pittsburgh, and in the innovation that will continue to define America’s future,” said McCormick. “Pittsburgh has always been a city that reinvents itself. Andrew Carnegie helped build the Steel City into an industrial powerhouse, and today, the university that bears his name is helping lead America into the next era of innovation.” 

“I’m so proud of President Farnam Jahanian and his team for helping make Carnegie Mellon one of the finest research institutions in the world, a global leader in artificial intelligence, robotics, engineering, computer science, and so much more,” he added.

Last year, McCormick selected CMU as the host of his inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, describing the university's leadership as a “natural home” for the event.

Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, was also present at CMU for that summit in 2025. He described the announcement on Wednesday as “BIG NEWS.” 

“Pennsylvania is now home to the largest ever single-donation in the history of higher education at @CarnegieMellon, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Ken Griffin,” Shapiro wrote on social media. “Thanks to his gift, CMU will expand their School of Computer Science right here in Pittsburgh AND expand down south to Miami, Florida.”

“Come 2028, our next generation of changemakers will have the opportunity to receive a world-class education at this brand new campus — expanding CMU’s 126-year legacy of innovation and problem solving that began right here in Western Pennsylvania,” Shapiro added.

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat, also resides in the region and touted the investment as a victory. 

“Forged by the mills and union members in my town, Carnegie Mellon continues to transform our world,” Fetterman said on social media. “Ken’s historic $1B donation to CMU and $2B for an expansion are transformative.”

“I’m grateful to him for this visionary contribution for this remarkable university and city,” he added. 

CMU President Farnam Jahanian, said the university is “deeply grateful” to Griffin for his “extraordinary vision, partnership, and belief” in what the university can achieve. 

“Throughout our history, CMU has anticipated moments of profound technological change and responded with new ways of thinking and solving problems,” he said. “Artificial intelligence represents one of the defining intellectual developments of our time, and it demands that we rethink how we educate students, conduct research and partner with others.” 

“Together, we have an opportunity to extend the very qualities that have long distinguished Carnegie Mellon — our agility, creativity, interdisciplinary culture and relentless focus on impact — to build a new model for higher education that meets the urgency of this moment,” Jahanian added. 

CMU, founded in 1900, is headquartered in Pittsburgh and is recognized as one of the nation’s elite universities. In U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings for 2027, CMU was ranked as the 14th among national universities. 

"Every great Carnegie Mellon story begins with partnership," Jahanian said. "Our relationship with Pittsburgh has shaped CMU for more than a century, and we believe the connections we build in Miami will enrich both cities. We look forward to listening, learning and working alongside our neighbors to create new opportunities for collaboration, innovation and shared prosperity."