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University of Pittsburgh

• Summary

University of Pittsburgh is a public institution that was founded in 1787. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 18,371, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 132 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Pittsburgh's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 58. Its in-state tuition and fees are $16,132 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $25,540 (2011-12).

Located in the Oakland neighborhood, Pitt’s campus is a 3-mile trip from bustling downtown Pittsburgh. The city is home to powerhouse professional sports teams, such as the Steelers and Penguins, and dozens of unique cultural centers, like the Andy Warhol Museum and Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Pitt students get free admission to these and other select museums throughout the school year. Because Pittsburgh is bordered by three rivers, kayaking, sailing, and fishing opportunities are plentiful. City buses stop every 10 to 15 minutes on campus, and students can ride public transportation into the city for free with school ID. Freshmen do not have to live on campus. Pitt has a sizeable Greek community of about 35 fraternities and sororities. Students in Arts and Sciences majors can earn hands-on credits in internships, research, and teaching with the help of the university’s Office of Experiential Learning. The Pittsburgh Panthers sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Big East Conference. Pitt students are notorious for their avid support at sporting events, particularly for forming a riotous cheering section known as the Oakland Zoo at basketball games. Students who attend the most home sporting events get priority purchasing when game tickets are in high demand through the school’s Loyalty Points system.

The university earns national accolades for its highly ranked School of Medicine, School of Education, and Swanson School of Engineering. The School of Medicine is particularly well regarded for its research, working in conjunction with the highly ranked University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and the institution receives one of the highest amounts of funding from the National Institutes of Health. The university is well known for its focus on going green, too. Students and faculty work toward environmentally friendly neighborhood solutions at the school’s Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, and the Blue, Gold and Green Sustainability Festival each April to promotes a green lifestyle, student research projects, and networking among like-minded environmentalists. There are notable University of Pittsburgh alumni in almost every professional sector; some are famed football personalities Mike Ditka and Dan Marino; former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon; , and Roscoe Robinson Jr., the first African-American Four Star General in the U.S. Army.

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):
The University of Pittsburgh is a member of the Association of American Universities, an organization comprising the top 63 leading research universities...

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General Information

School type public, coed college
Year founded 1787
Religious affiliation N/A
Academic calendar semester
Setting urban
2010 Endowment N/A

Applying

When applying to University of Pittsburgh, it's important to note the application deadline is rolling. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due April 1. The application fee at University of Pittsburgh is $45. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 57.8 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity more selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate 58%
Application deadline rolling
SAT/ACT scores must be received by April 1
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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at University of Pittsburgh is 14:1, and the school has 42.0 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Pittsburgh include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Social Sciences; English Language and Literature/Letters; Health Professions and Related Programs; and Psychology. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 91.5 percent

Paying for School

At University of Pittsburgh, 54.9 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $8,281.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

In-state tuition and fees $16,132 (2011-12)
Out-of-state tuition and fees $25,540 (2011-12)
Room and board $9,430 (2011-12) - Medium