An introduction to the University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh | Forged in progress

The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is focused on the impact and the unwavering pursuit of positive change. Pitt is a top-ranked public university in Pennsylvania and a member of the Association of American Universities, a group of leading research institutions. With all its discoveries, Pitt established itself as one of the world’s most innovative universities. The university forges ahead by inventing future paths.

The advantages and environments of liberal arts colleges are a combination of the resources and prestige of a major research university at Pitt’s regional campuses in Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown, and Titusville.

Pitt improves the lives of Pennsylvanians across the state, from workforce development to increased social mobility to arts and culture.

The University of Pittsburgh | A brief overview

Founded in 1787, The University of Pittsburgh is a public research university and has a total undergraduate enrollment of 19,980 students (fall 2021). The campus size of Pitt is 145 acres, and it is set in an urban area.

The academic calendar of Pitt is semester-based. The University of Pittsburgh has a #62nd rank in National Universities in the Best Colleges 2022-2023 edition. It charges $19,760 for in-state tuition and fees and $36,000 for out-of-state tuition and fees.

As three rivers surround Pittsburgh, there are numerous opportunities for kayaking, sailing, and fishing. City buses stop on campus every 10 to 15 minutes, and students with school IDs can ride public transportation into the city for free. It is not mandatory for freshmen to live on campus. Pitt’s Greek community is large, with nearly 40 fraternities and sororities. With the assistance of the university’s Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity, students majoring in Arts and Sciences can earn hands-on credits in internships, research, and teaching.

The Pittsburgh Panthers compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA Division I.

Pitt students are well-known for their enthusiastic attendance at sporting events, particularly at basketball games, where they form a riotous cheering section known as the Oakland Zoo. Through the school’s Loyalty Points system, students who attend the most home sporting events receive ‘priority purchasing’ when game tickets are in high demand.

Campus

The 145-acre campus houses 23,466 full-time and 1,087 part-time undergraduates, as well as 7,280 full-time and 1,911 part-time graduate/doctoral students. The university received research funding from the National Institutes of Health in 2018 and was the third-largest recipient of federally sponsored health research funding among U.S. universities.

According to the National Science Foundation, the institution spent $1 billion on research and development activities in 2018, ranking 14th in the country. Leading publications have named the university one of the top research educational institutions and the ‘best value’ in higher education. The Pittsburgh campus has 17 libraries, including approximately 1.5 million books. The University’s library system is the 22nd largest in the United States.

Pitt-Bradford

Pitt-Bradford lies is in northwestern Pennsylvania, just minutes from the Allegheny National Forest and a variety of outdoor activities. The campus provides opportunities for research and hands-on learning, as well as 60+ student organizations, NCAA Division III varsity athletics, and apartment-style residence halls.

Pitt-Greensburg

Located in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, Pitt-Greensburg is an area known for its picturesque towns and outdoor adventure opportunities. The Center for Applied Research and 50+ student organizations on campus provide hands-on undergraduate research experience.

Pitt-Johnstown

Located in Pennsylvania’s picturesque Laurel Highlands, Pitt-Johnstown offers suite-style residence halls. It also has NCAA Division II athletic teams and 100+ student organizations. In the Cook Family Idea Lab, students develop and pitch big ideas, and in the Social Media War Room, they hone their digital marketing skills.

Pitt-Titusville

Located in Northwestern Pennsylvania, Pitt-Titusville is close to Erie, Pittsburgh, and the beautiful Allegheny National Forest. The Education and Training Campus Hub is located on this campus and provides a variety of workforce training and education programs.

Courses

International students can choose from a wide range of courses at the University of Pittsburgh, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs and courses in a variety of fields.

The University of Pittsburgh’s Medical and Business programs are among the best in the state of Pennsylvania. Accounting, bioinformatics, and biological sciences are popular undergraduate majors and minors, as are petroleum engineering, exercise science, dance, and polymer engineering.

Top master’s courses offered by the University of Pittsburgh-

• Master of Science (M.S), Quantitative Economics    
• Master of Science (M.S), Physics and Astronomy    
• Master of Science (M.S), Chemistry
• Master of Arts (M.A), Statistics     
• Master of Science (M.S), Computer Science    
• Master of Science (M.S), Mechanical Engineering     
• Master of Science (M.S), Nursing    
• Master of Science (M.S), Information Science     
• Master of Science (M.S), Industrial Engineering

Rankings

• QS World University Rankings- 181
• QS WUR Ranking by Subject- 151
• Graduate Employability Ranking- 181-190
• US UNI (universities)- 60

Alumni

Pitt has many successful alumni, which include Nobel Prize winners include Paul Lauterbur for his extraordinary work in magnetic resonance imaging, Philip Hench for discovering the hormone cortisol, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, the founder of the Green Belt Movement. Vladimir Zworykin, also known as the ‘Father of Television,’ is another well-known alum. It is a major source of Fulbright scholars and Peace Corps volunteers in the country.

Key takeaways

• The University of Pittsburgh focuses on the impact and pursuit of positive change. It has high rankings in Pennsylvania and has a membership of the Association of American Universities.
• The Pittsburgh campus includes 17 libraries, with approximately 1.5 million books. Pitt’s library system is the 22nd largest in the United States. The university has 4 campuses- Pitt-Bradford, Pitt-Johnstown, Pitt-Greensberg, and Pitt-Titusville.
• Pitt’s Medical and Business programs are among the best in Pennsylvania. The university offers courses in disciplines such as accounting, bioinformatics, biological sciences, and so on.

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FAQs

Q1. What GPA do you need to get accepted to Pitt?

Ans- You can get accepted into the University of Pittsburgh with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.

Q2. What is the acceptance rate of the University of Pittsburgh?

Ans- The acceptance rate of Pitt is 66.7%.

Q3. Can I get accepted to Pitt with a 1200 SAT score?

Ans- There is no absolute SAT requirement at the University of Pittsburgh, but they do want to see at least 1260 to be considered.