University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
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University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is a public university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that admits about 59% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $30,434 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Research and Experimental Psychology, Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing and Biology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 86% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 3.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 59%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1370 and an ACT composite around 31. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $30,434 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus right now
The University of Pittsburgh enrolled its largest-ever first-year class in Fall 2025, 5,870 students, 1,281 more than the previous fall, selected from a record pool of nearly 65,000 applicants; undergraduate enrollment on the Oakland campus rose about 4.5 percent, from 20,418 to 21,388. The university-wide number is the least useful figure for a family, because Pitt admits into individual schools and the bars differ sharply between them. Among admitted students the middle 50 percent runs from an SAT of 1280 to 1440 with a 3.74 to 4.34 weighted GPA in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, to an SAT of 1320 to 1470 with a 3.97 to 4.46 GPA in the Swanson School of Engineering, while Nursing sits highest on GPA at 4.10 to 4.44. Testing behaviour splits the same way: between roughly 36 and 66 percent of admitted students applied without scores depending on the school, with the lowest test-optional shares in engineering and computing. The school a student names is therefore a strategic choice, not an administrative one, and Pitt states these ranges describe admitted students rather than cutoffs.
What GPA does my child need for University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What does University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus weight in admissions?
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 640–740, with an EBRW midpoint near 675. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | — |
| 50th percentile | 1370 |
| 75th percentile | — |
| % submitting SAT | % |
| 25th percentile | 29 |
| 50th percentile | 31 |
| 75th percentile | 33 |
| % submitting ACT | % |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
How much does University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus actually cost?
Published tuition is $21,926 for in-state students and $41,430 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,620 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $30,434 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 14% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $30,434 |
| Application fee | $55 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
| Regular deadline | 7/30 |
| Notification date | Rolling basis beginning 5/1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 or within 2 weeks if notified thereafter |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?
These predict outcomes at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Research and Experimental Psychology, Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing and Biology, General. Across all programs, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus confers roughly 2,153 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $77,904 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 474 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 309 | $77,904 |
| Biology, General | 280 | $61,794 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 244 | $91,242 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 230 | $53,776 |
| Marketing | 224 | $78,395 |
| Computer Science | 203 | $104,624 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 189 | $64,114 |
Is University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus disclosed 74 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 18 violent offenses and 18 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?
About 44% of undergraduates at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 9% of men join a fraternity and 12% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
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Next steps for University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Common questions parents ask about University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
What GPA do I need for University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 640–740, with an EBRW midpoint near 675. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33.
How much does University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus after grants and scholarships is $30,434 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $21,926 and $41,430 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus realistic for my child?
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus admits 59% of applicants, so 640–740 SAT Math is target range and below 640 is a reach. Then check the $30,434 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus accepts about 59% of applicants out of roughly 64,724 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus test-optional?
Yes. University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?
About 86% of students at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus graduate within six years. 93% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus look for in applicants?
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus rates course rigor, GPA and the application essay as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
What are the most popular majors at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus by annual graduates are Research and Experimental Psychology, Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing and Biology, General. The school awards about 2,153 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus reported 74 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 3.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?
At University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, 44% of undergraduates live on campus, 9% of men are in fraternities, 12% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers