University of Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh College Guide

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Vibe

Fun-size, STEM-heavy city school

What it Feels Like to Go Here

University of Pittsburgh (a.k.a. Pitt) is the kind of school where “bustling” isn’t just a brochure buzzword. Even on the rainiest Pittsburgh days, you’ll see student groups fundraising in the quad, people racing to catch the city bus to go catch a movie, and food trucks galore. College can sometimes feel like a bubble, but Pitt feels like a part of the city. Students become dedicated Steelers fans, passionate local activists, or diehard DIY music fans —they think of Pittsburgh, not just Pitt, as their home. That’s not to say they don’t have school spirit— sports fans will find roaring fan sections here, and you’ll hear the slogan “Hail to Pitt!” about three billion times over four years.

It’s a rigorous school with ambitious students, but people are genuinely excited to learn and don’t compete with each other, even in classes full of Pitt’s many pre-meds. The students are down-to-earth and willing to help each other out. Someone will always stop to give you directions or explain that impossible chemistry problem. Professors, while often busy with research, are enthusiastic about supporting students. Though it’s a STEM-heavy school, there are opportunities for everyone, from the neuroscience buff to the philosophical poet. Student groups welcome new members enthusiastically. And people in Greek life go all in, but if you’re not involved, you’ll barely register its presence.

Because there are so many people with such varied interests, things can be overwhelming at times. When you haven’t yet found your passion or a friend, you might feel like a tiny fish in a big public university pond. But having all those interests in one place also guarantees you’ll find your place and people. If you love cool architecture, public transportation, and late-night study sessions, you’ll feel at home here.

Awesome Alumni

Pitt is the school you never realized your favorites attended. If you’re a sports buff, you’ll recognize the iconic NFL quarterback Dan Marino or running back Tony Dorsett. Film lovers, Pitt has a Hollywood star for Gene Kelly embedded in the sidewalk around the student union. Acclaimed poet and writer Terrance Hayes received his MFA at Pitt. And if you’re chronically on YouTube, you might already know that Jack Stauber and Gabbie Hanna —who recently made a surprise campus visit to her sorority— are Pitt grads, too.

Where We Hang

When it’s time to beat the exam curve, students hunker down in Hillman Library, which has been under renovation since 2021 and has the fresh paint (and overly fluorescent lights) to prove it. If you develop an antibiotic-style resistance to studying there and can no longer walk through the doors without a wave of panic, try the common area of the Cathedral of Learning. Its arched ceilings and dark wood tables look straight out of Hogwarts. Both buildings’ student-run cafes serve mediocre matcha and excellent espresso.

At American Eagle’s Stage AE, a short distance from campus, students catch artists from Alvvays to Chappell Roan and the Front Bottoms. When it isn’t filled with students screaming themselves hoarse for the Pittsburgh Steelers or Pitt Panthers (yes, they play on the same field), Acrisure Stadium hosts the likes of Morgan Wallen and Taylor Swift. Students run an impressive DIY scene closer to campus, attracting up-and-coming artists and student bands alike. Indie rock band Feeble Little Horse, which played Coachella this year, started out as a handful of students performing in basements in Pitt’s South Oakland.

With its urban setting and relentless construction projects, green space is a bit hard to come by right on campus, making the beautiful Cathedral of Learning lawn all the more alluring to students. You’ll find countless picnickers and last-minute studiers dotting the grass during the warmer months. Pittsburgh’s parks, including the nearby Schenley Park, draw in bikers, hikers and wandering types.

Quite a few bars surround campus —from Hemingway’s, a classic dive bar complete with sticky floors located right under freshman dorms, to Phat’s, featuring booming music and a neon sign. But many students venture to neighborhoods farther from Pitt’s campus like East Liberty and the South Side for nights out.

The Pitt Program Council brings in guests like Brittany Broski and Josh Peck, and it’s also responsible for the two biggest music events of the year — Fall Fest and Bigelow Bash. Some recent headliners for which have been Yung Gravy and Carly Rae Jepesen and welcome student openers to the food-truck-flanked outdoor stage. Other major traditions include Lantern Night, which passes on the light of learning to new students, and the annual homecoming fireworks show. Finally, if you attend a football game, the crowd will eventually break into a rendition of “Sweet Caroline” with the lyrics “Let’s go Pitt!”

Q&A

1. How much are students partying?

“Students are partying depending on who they are/what their social circle is like, and I feel like that dictates the type of party they attend… it can be clubbing, it can be smoking with friends, but students are certainly taking advantage of every weekend, thirsty Thursday, and other weekdays,” University of Pittsburgh graduate Julia Kebuladze said.

2. What will you get in trouble for at your school?

“Having only lived in a dorm for a year, we got away with everythingggg and then hosted house parties for forever and did a bunch more… Not once were we in trouble,” Kebuladze said.

3. What would you tell incoming freshmen about your school?

“If you choose to come to Pitt, be sure to check out all the clubs and organizations the school has to offer at the activities fair. There’s something for everyone, and most people make some of their best friends not in their classes but in the clubs they choose to join. Jump in headfirst and don’t be afraid to try something new,” Senior politics-philosophy and poetry major Thomas Riley said.

4. How much sex are students having? How is safe sex encouraged on campus?

“The students at Pitt have a wide range of sexual tendencies. I know people who go to several-person orgies and others who have kept their virginity through senior year. There isn’t much stigma around sexual preferences, and many campus organizations like SAFE and Planned Parenthood work to encourage Pitt’s students to engage in safe sex,” Riley said.

5. How is students’ mental health? Are there good supports?

“I got lucky with mental health supports and having great clinicians at Pitt, but not everyone shares my sentiments and I know that the care can be lacking and inadequate. From personal experience though, they really helped me find balance with school and social life. I think every college freshman should take advantage of that resource in a time of such a huge transition,” Kebuladze said.

6. How are academics at Pitt?

“Pitt has a strong commitment to academics but it’s feast-or-famine depending on the department… Moreover, Pitt’s commitment to academics feels very utilitarian/career-oriented — it’s not so much an interdisciplinary academic playground as it is a vocational bootcamp. Lately, Pitt has been trying to leverage its medical reputation to become a “name-brand” undergrad institution, and it’s largely succeeding. However, the students aren’t seeing much of that reward,” Senior psychology and computer science major Nick Cassano said.

Student Reviews

Something that surprised you about Pitt

“I wasn’t able to tour Pitt due to the pandemic, so I was quite surprised by how intense Cardiac Hill actually is,” Senior English writing major Gabriela Herring said.

“Pitt is considered a ‘city school,’ but I’ve been surprised how little that has impacted my education or experience in college. Sure, the bustle and amenities of a city are nice, but when in academic buildings they become merely a backdrop. Coming from the suburbs, I wasn’t sure how I’d adapt to the environment, but I acclimated much more easily than I thought,” Cassano said.

“I was surprised by how big of a queer community there is at Pitt, and how much queer people love to party,” Kebuladze said.

Greatest Challenge at Your School:

“Identifying like-minded peers has been a real challenge. Introductory courses are so large that it’s hard to meet people, and by the time they get small enough for socializing, you’re in your senior year and most friendships are already made… I’m very content with my friendships at this point, but three years in and I’m still not sure if I’ve found my tribe,” Cassano said.

Top 3 Majors

1. Business

2. Engineering

3. Health professions

Top 3 Most Popular Student Organizations

1. Pitt Dance Marathon (PDM)

This group is the largest student-run philanthropic organization on campus. It’s full of committed and dedicated students that are looking to give back. Through yearlong fundraising and an annual dance marathon, PDM has raised over $2 million for local children’s hospitals since 2005. The money raised goes toward research, training, equipment and uncompensated medical treatment

“Even when I joined the organization when everything was still going back to normal, I immediately felt the love and support from everyone involved. PDM is full of caring, loving and passionate students and there is truly no better way to be involved in the community than this,” PDM President Claire Emch said.

Fundraising is a year-round process, so there’s always something to help out with in the club. But the culmination of its efforts is a dance marathon that brings together students, community members and kids from the Miracle Network in a colorful, energetic bash. The 2024 marathon lasted 10 hours and raised over $357,000. As a student, you can participate as an individual or lead a team to raise as many donations as possible. If you join Greek Life, there’s a good chance your chapter might get involved with PDM, too.

2. Planned Parenthood Generation Action

Students interested in reproductive justice and equitable healthcare get together and organize at this campus organization. The club holds educational, action-oriented and social events alike, from game nights to on-campus tabling to hosting educational speakers. Events are open to new members all throughout the year, and you don’t necessarily need to be able to attend every one, making it a great option if you weren’t sure how to get involved right at the start of a semester. The club brings together students interested in healthcare, policy and law with anyone who’s passionate about reproductive rights and access. With volunteering options, seminars and connections to local and state leaders in the field, it’s a great way to meet like-minded folks.

In the past year, PPGen hosted some big names in the reproductive healthcare world. In September, for instance, the club brought Sue Fritsche, a leader and attorney at the Women’s Law Project, and also hosted the director of abortion care at a local health center and a law professor. In March, PPGen held a Q&A with Sydney Etheredge, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania. When they’re not busy learning, members participate in fun events like mental health journaling, sex ed Jeopardy, valentine’s crafts and creating vision boards.

3. WPTS 92.1 FM Radio

The University of Pittsburgh’s student-run FM radio station hosts DJs, podcasts and talk shows live on air, and they play music from underrepresented and lesser-known artists. Students can help with technical aspects, marketing, music selection and more. The organization also helps host block party concerts during both semesters and holds an annual bike race for charity. If you’re hoping to meet people with the same niche music taste as you—or just to expand your musical horizons—WPTS is the place for you.

“My favorite thing about WPTS is the way that the station’s physical space serves as a social hub where people who might otherwise struggle to make friends can go and be sure to find warm and welcoming people,” Senior history and legal studies major and WPTS member Connor Diaz said.

The club’s hub is a fully equipped station located in the student union and decked out with band posters dating back decades, funky art and inside jokes whose creators have long graduated. Almost all club programming takes place there, and you can drop by the station to visit friends between classes during the day. No matter what your talents are, there’s a way to employ them at the station. The technologically savvy can save the day when parts mysteriously stop working, the avid music listener can publish reviews of new albums and the social media guru can film Reels and create collages to grow the station’s reach.

Getting In

Pitt has a somewhat quirky application process compared to most of its peers. Admissions are rolling, meaning you can apply and be accepted at any time. However, it’s best to apply as early as you can in the fall before you intend to move in — spots fill up quickly, and the admissions committee begins making scholarship decisions as early as October. You should apply early if you’re interested in being admitted to Pitt’s Frederick Honors College, which also requires its own supplemental essay.

Pitt offers a variety of guaranteed graduate school admission programs to first-year applicants, including to medical school, PA programs, and masters’ programs, all of which have a set deadline. The other application quirk is that you’ll need to fill out a “self-reported academic record,” which involves inputting your high school transcript into Pitt’s own form. Like many universities, Pitt is test-optional through fall 2025, so strong grades can stand on their own. However, a strong ACT or SAT score can set you apart for a scholarship — alongside a strong personal statement.

Stats

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Tuition & Fees: For full-time arts and sciences students, $21,524 in-state, $39,890 for out-of-state.

Total Cost on Campus: In-state: $39,404 / Out-of-state: $57,770

Undergrads Enrolled: 20,220 at Pittsburgh campus

Grads Enrolled: 9,313

Total Enrolled: 29,533 at Pittsburgh campus

Acceptance percentage: 49%

Percent Admitted who Enroll: 16.8% for the class of 2026

Enrollment: 4,632

Percentage of Male Students: 43%

Percentage of Female Students: 57%

Percentage Receiving Financial Aid: 76%

Percentage Receiving Federal Grants: 13% receive Pell grants

Percentage Receiving Federal Loans: 58%