University of Pittsburgh Description:
The 132-acre campus of the University of Pittsburgh is easily recognized by the towering Cathedral of Learning, the tallest educational building in the U.S. On the academic front, Pitt has wide-ranging strengths including Philosophy, Medicine, Engineering and Business. The university often ranks among the top 20 public universities in the U.S., and its strong research programs have earned it membership in the exclusive Association of American Universities. Pitt also can boast of a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. In athletics, the Pitt Panthers compete in the NCAA Division I Big East Conference.
Admissions Data (2011):
- Percent of Applicants Admitted: 58%
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Pitt
- What Are Your Chances? (from Cappex.com)
- Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
- SAT Critical Reading: 570 / 680
- SAT Math: 600 / 690
- SAT Writing: 560 / 660
- ACT Composite: 25 / 30
- ACT English: 25 / 32
- ACT Math: 25 / 31
- ACT Writing: 8 / 9
Enrollment (2010):
- Total Enrollment: 28,823 (18,371 undergraduates)
- Gender Breakdown: 49% Male / 51% Female
- 93% Full-time
Costs (2011 - 12):
- Tuition and Fees: $16,132 (in-state); $25,540 (out-of-state)
- Books: $1,110
- Room and Board: $9,430
- Other Expenses: $3,060
- Total Cost: $29,732 (in-state); $39,140 (out-of-state)
University of Pittsburgh Financial Aid (2009 - 10):
- Percentage of Students Receiving Aid: 82%
- University of Pittsburgh Scholarships (Cappex.com)
- Percentage of Students Receiving Types of Aid
- Grants: 48%
- Loans: 66%
- Average Amount of Aid
- Grants: $11,140
- Loans: $8,057
- Merit Aid Scholarhips at Pitt (Cappex)
Most Popular Majors:
Accounting, Biology, Creative Writing, Finance, History, Marketing, Nursing, Political Science, Psychology, Speech and Rhetorical Studies
Graduation and Retention Rates:
- First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 93%
- 4-Year Graduation Rate: 57%
- 6-Year Graduation Rate: 78%
Data Source:
National Center for Educational Statistics
University of Pittsburgh Mission Statement:
mission statement from http://www.ir.pitt.edu/factbook/fbweb99/general/MISSION.htm
"The University of Pittsburgh, founded in 1787, is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. As one of the nation's distinguished comprehensive universities, the resources of the University constitute an invaluable asset for the intellectual, economic, and social enrichment of Pennsylvania, while the international prestige of the University enhances the image of Pennsylvania throughout the world.
The University's mission is to:
- provide high-quality undergraduate programs in the arts and sciences and professional fields, with emphasis upon those of special benefit to the citizens of Pennsylvania;
- offer superior graduate programs in the arts and sciences and the professions that respond to the needs of Pennsylvania, as well as to the broader needs of the nation and the world;
- engage in research, artistic, and scholarly activities that advance learning through the extension of the frontiers of knowledge and creative endeavor;
- cooperate with industrial and governmental institutions to transfer knowledge in science, technology, and health care;
- offer continuing education programs adapted to the personal enrichment, professional upgrading, and career advancement interests and needs of adult Pennsylvanians; and
- make available to local communities and public agencies the expertise of the University in ways that are consistent with the primary teaching and research functions and contribute to social, intellectual, and economic development in the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world.


