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Pittsburgh , PA
The University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as Pitt, is a prestigious public research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Established in 1787, it is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions in the United States. Pitt is renowned for its strong academic programs, innovative research initiatives, and overall commitment to excellence.
Pitt offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including business, engineering, humanities, sciences, social sciences, health sciences, and more. The university is particularly acclaimed for its programs in health sciences, with its Medical School consistently ranked among the top in the country. Additionally, Pitt is recognized for its strong offerings in areas such as law, education, computer science, and public affairs.
As a leading research institution, the University of Pittsburgh is at the forefront of groundbreaking discoveries and cutting-edge advancements in numerous fields. The university receives significant research funding and collaborates with renowned faculty members who are experts in their respective areas. Pitt is also home to various research centers and institutes that promote interdisciplinary collaborations, offering students unique opportunities to engage in impactful research projects.
Overall, the University of Pittsburgh provides a vibrant and intellectually stimulating environment for students. With its rich history, strong academic programs, and pioneering research, Pitt offers an exceptional educational experience that prepares students for successful careers and lifelong learning. Additionally, the university's prime location in the heart of Pittsburgh provides students with easy access to cultural attractions, vibrant neighborhoods, and numerous internship and job opportunities in various industries.
Located in Pittsburgh, PA and set in an urban environment, University of Pittsburgh is a public university. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 58%. The freshman retention rate at University of Pittsburgh is 92% and the six-year graduation rate is 85%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is July 30. Learn more about what University of Pittsburgh has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
20,418
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
85%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Knowing as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Here are the most essential facts you should know about admission policy and requirements at University of Pittsburgh.
According to the most recent data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 35,372 in 2025. University of Pittsburgh has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores for the candidates who choose to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an outstanding educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 39.5% and ACT scores 10.1%. 38.76% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 54.68% between 1,200 and 1,399, 6.05% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 1% between 800 and 999. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 68.63, 26.47 between 24-29, 4.66 in the range between 18-23, and 0.25 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 4.08. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into University of Pittsburgh.
Deadlines
The cutoff date for submitting applications to this school is July 30.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for University of Pittsburgh was 92%, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 85%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the best match for you is not simple. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 29,927 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 35% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 20,418, 881 of which were foreign students. 723 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 11,308 male and 16,001 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 3,064, and the number of Black American students was 1,068. 1,393 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 963 identified with more than one race. The school also had 4 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 7 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 452 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for University of Pittsburgh is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $20,966. Tuition fees were $41,662 for students coming from a different state. For international students, tuition fees at this school amounted to $41,662, as well. Full-time students in 2025 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,770.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $41,662 | $1,770 | $43,432 |
| In-State | $20,966 | $1,770 | $22,736 |
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to pay about $576 for books and supplies during their time at University of Pittsburgh.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
At University of Pittsburgh, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $14,720. If you only wanted a dormitory room, you had to pay $8,770 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $9,810.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 20,966 |
| Room and Board | $ 14,720 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 576 |
| Total Expense | $ 36,262 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all different types of financial aid for students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid at University of Pittsburgh.
The most recent records show that 2,250 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $18,255.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 7,837 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at University of Pittsburgh is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 9,544. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $20,463,288, and state $12,428,288. The students of University of Pittsburgh received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $81,496,268, and external in the amount of $6,785,290.
$8,943
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
635 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. 180 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $20,463,288 while the state aid is $37,712. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $23,061,701. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $7,785,447 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2025, this ratio at University of Pittsburgh was 13:1. That means that there were 13 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 2,485. Out of that number, there were 1,276 men and 1,209 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some details about students' life at University of Pittsburgh.
Its campus is 147 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
This school has 776 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. That includes sororities and fraternities. 9 percent of male and 12 of female students participate actively in different organizations at University of Pittsburgh. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is Panhellenic Association, followed by Interfraternity Council and Pitt Program Council. Other popular student organizations at this school are Black Action Society and Resident Student Association.
If you are interested in music, you can join the University of Pittsburgh band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? University of Pittsburgh publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
University of Pittsburgh has a number of services crucial for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The school has electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services and Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of University of Pittsburgh.
All in all, campus life at University of Pittsburgh is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at University of Pittsburgh.
Career Counselling
At University of Pittsburgh, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Acquiring information about the potential income after graduation can help you decide if a specific school is the right one for your career aspirations.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this institution is 67,497 USD.
$67,497
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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University of Pittsburgh is located in Pittsburgh, PA.
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University of Pittsburgh offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for University of Pittsburgh is 58%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for University of Pittsburgh is 92%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.