Carnegie Mellon University
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Using ChatGPT Edu with an Existing OpenAI Account

Many people on campus may already have a ChatGPT account using their @andrew.cmu.edu email address. 

Your existing account will not change if:

  • you do not purchase a ChatGPT Edu license.
  • you are using an alias (@cmu.edu, @cs.cmu.edu, etc.).
  • you are an OpenAI Platform API customer.

If you choose to purchase an Edu license, use this page to understand how your existing account may change. 

Joining ChatGPT Edu

OpenAI does not currently allow customers to maintain both an Edu account and a Free/Plus account. If you purchase an Edu license, your Free/Plus account will transition to an Edu account.

  • You will receive an email invitation to join within one business day of purchasing through the software catalog.
  • You will begin logging in with single sign-on through Web Login using your Andrew userID and password and authenticating with DUO.
  • After you first log in, you will have the option to migrate OR export and delete your ChatGPT data from your existing account. ChatGPT data includes chats and GPTs.

IMPORTANT: We recommend choosing to export and delete your ChatGPT data. OpenAI does not currently allow ChatGPT Edu accounts to export or transition their data if they move to another account type. You will lose your ChatGPT data, including any data you transferred from a Free/Plus account, when you leave ChatGPT Edu.

Leaving ChatGPT Edu

When your Edu license expires, you will transition automatically to a Free account.

OpenAI does not currently allow Edu accounts to export or transition their data. You will lose your ChatGPT data when you leave ChatGPT Edu, including any data you transferred from a Free/Plus account. If you have chats you would like to keep, copy and paste them into a document.

Joining ChatGPT Edu

OpenAI allows customers to maintain both an Edu account and a Teams account. If you purchase an Edu license, you will be able to switch between your Edu and Teams account as needed.

  • You will receive an email invitation to join within one business day of purchasing through the software catalog.
  • You will begin logging in with single sign-on through Web Login using your Andrew userID and password and authenticating with DUO.Note: You will continue to use your ChatGPT password to log in to your Teams account. 
  • Chats and GPTs will remain in the workspace in which they were created.

OpenAI does not currently allow ChatGPT Edu accounts to export or transition their data if they move to another account type. You will lose your ChatGPT data when you leave ChatGPT Edu.

Using ChatGPT Edu and Teams Simultaneously

Once logged in, click your profile icon to toggle between Teams and Edu. 

  • When you switch from Edu to Teams, you will have to re-enter your Teams email and password to access the workspace. After you enter your email, click Continue with Password.
  • When you switch from Teams to Edu, you may have to re-enter your Andrew email and password to access the workspace. After you enter your Andrew email, click CMU Edu SSO.

Leaving ChatGPT Edu

OpenAI does not currently allow ChatGPT Edu accounts to export or transition their data if they move to another account type. You will lose your ChatGPT data when you leave ChatGPT Edu. If you have chats you would like to keep, copy and paste them into a document.

Leaving Your Teams Account

If you purchase an Edu license and no longer wish to maintain Teams account, you will lose all data, including chats and GPTs, created within your Teams workspace. 

If you are using ChatGPT Pro and you are interested in ChatGPT Edu, contact Bo Powers, AI Architect, at powers@cmu.edu to schedule a consultation and discuss your goals.