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Carnegie Mellon Will Open Wynwood Campus by 2028

The new facility will serve 3,500 students following a historic $2 billion donation.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Higher Education

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Carnegie Mellon University will establish a new campus in Miami's Wynwood district by 2028, supported by a historic $2 billion donation from Ken Griffin. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Wynwood will host a new Carnegie Mellon University campus, a major academic expansion funded by a $2 billion gift from Ken Griffin. The project marks a new chapter for the Pittsburgh-based institution as it establishes a footprint in Miami.

Why it matters

The investment brings a top-tier research institution to the city, potentially transforming the local higher education landscape for students and faculty. It represents the largest single gift to a university in United States history.

The campus will support 3,500 students along with 300 faculty and 600 staff, backed by a $2 billion construction gift. Tuition and fees are currently set at nearly $71,000 annually at the main Pittsburgh campus.

The players

Carnegie Mellon University

A research university currently based in Pittsburgh that ranks 14th nationally.

Ken Griffin

A donor who provided $2 billion for campus construction and $500 million for the school of computer science.

Kenneth C. Griffin School of Computer Science

The renamed computer science school at the university.

The details

The new campus will be constructed at the current Mana Wynwood convention center site. Ken Griffin also pledged an additional $500 million to the university's school of computer science, which will be renamed the Kenneth C. Griffin School of Computer Science. Construction is slated to begin in 2027.

Timeline

  1. 1900: Andrew Carnegie established the school as a technical college.

  2. 2027: Construction on the new campus is expected to begin.

  3. 2028: Enrollment at the new campus is expected to begin.

Beyond the 305

This project follows the pattern of major private research universities expanding their reach beyond their home cities to establish regional satellite hubs. It significantly extends the reach of a school that has historically concentrated its operations in Pittsburgh since 1900.

Local students and prospective researchers will gain access to a top-14 national undergraduate program right in Wynwood by 2028. The shift introduces a new competitive option in the local higher education market alongside existing area universities.

The takeaway

The arrival of a top-tier institution like Carnegie Mellon signals a major shift in Miami's academic profile. Residents should watch for upcoming construction permits and public hearings regarding the Mana Wynwood site redevelopment.

What happens next

Construction is expected to begin in 2027, followed by the start of enrollment in 2028.

Further reading

For more updates on the growth of research facilities in the region, visit Higher Education.

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