Carnegie Mellon’s Silicon Valley campus is a place like no other. Located inside NASA’s Moffett Field, it blends history, innovation, and a strong sense of community.
Since 2002, we’ve been part of the NASA Research Park in Mountain View, California. Our campus sits among grassy lawns, tree-lined paths, and historic hangars. It’s a calm, focused environment just minutes from downtown Mountain View, where you’ll find plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, and places to recharge.
We are a graduate-only community with around 300 students. All classrooms, study areas, staff offices, and common spaces are located in a single building. This layout makes it easy to:
- Connect with people across departments
- Build relationships with faculty and staff
- Feel a sense of belonging from day one
A unique setting
Entering campus
Being located on federal property means there are a few extra logistics involved in getting onto campus. This also means CMU-SV is extremely safe, with protective services and controlled access as part of the environment. You’ll receive everything you need to know about accessing campus and how to get added to the NASA student database in your CMU-SV onboarding Canvas course.
Because we are in a secure research environment, campus access is limited to approved students, staff and faculty. If family or friends plan to visit, our facilities team can help with the process.
Food on campus
Most students find it helpful to plan ahead and bring meals with them. Since we don’t have a traditional cafeteria, a little preparation can go a long way.
That said, there are several easy and popular options for getting food during the day:
- The NASA SpaceBar, just down the street from campus, is a go-to spot for lunch or a quick break.
- Food delivery services bring meals directly to campus
- Campus events, held one to two times a week, often include food and snacks.
- Downtown Mountain View, just a 10-minute drive away, offers a wide variety of restaurants, cafes, and takeout spots.
With a little planning, it’s easy to stay fueled, find your favorites, and even discover new local spots along the way.
Everyday life at CMU-SV
Life at CMU-SV feels both focused and personal. With California sunshine nearly year-round, students often step outside for coffee, take a walk to reset between classes, or jump into a quick game of pickleball. These small moments help create a healthy rhythm and bring energy to everyday life on campus.
Everything happens within one building, including:
- Classes and group work
- Office hours and faculty meetings
- Social events and casual gatherings
This setup makes it easy to meet people across programs, build connections, and feel part of the community from the start. Whether you are arriving from across the country or around the world, you will find a campus where people are kind, curious, and ready to welcome you.
Where to go from here
Explore the following pages when you're ready. Each page is designed to help you start strong and feel more at home before you even arrive on campus.