Public · #70 National University

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA · 20,370 undergraduates

58%
Acceptance rate
1280–1460
SAT middle 50%
29–33
ACT middle 50%
Test-optional
Test policy
86%
Graduation rate
$66,125
Median earnings (10 yr)
✓ Offers merit scholarships

What it may cost by family income

Estimated average net price — what families actually pay after grants and scholarships — by annual household income. Net price matters far more than the $57,609 sticker price. All figures are the full cost of attendance — housing, food, and books included, not just tuition.

Household incomeEst. net price / year
Under $30k$14,709
$30k–$48k$18,371
$48k–$75k$23,192
$75k–$110k$31,567
Over $110k$36,008

Sticker cost of attendance: $57,609 (out-of-state) · $38,105 in-state.

What the whole degree costs

Every cost figure above is one year. A bachelor's degree is four — sometimes five. Today's-prices makes no assumptions; the second column assumes prices rise ~3.5% a year, in line with recent averages.

Household income4 yrs, today's prices4 yrs with increases
Under $30k$58,836$61,998
$30k–$48k$73,484$77,433
$48k–$75k$92,768$97,753
$75k–$110k$126,268$133,053
Over $110k$144,032$151,772

First-year aid is not guaranteed to repeat — ask University of Pittsburgh how grants change after year one. That answer moves these numbers more than anything else on this page.

Applying to a specific major at University of Pittsburgh

58% is the acceptance rate for the whole university — not for every major. For the programs below, admission is usually decided separately and is harder than that number suggests. Almost no university publishes a by-major admission rate, and neither does the federal government, so we do not show one: any site that does is estimating.

To find the real figure for your major, check University of Pittsburgh's Common Data Set and its admissions page, or ask an admissions officer directly — that question gets answered more often than students expect.

Computer Science Capacity-constrained

At University of Pittsburgh: 195 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $67,202 median earnings (Computer Science.)

Applicant demand has grown far faster than faculty and seats, so many universities cap CS enrollment, admit to it directly, or require a competitive internal application after enrolling.

Check: Whether the school admits to CS directly, and whether switching into CS later is restricted — the answer changes your real odds more than your test scores do.

Engineering Direct admit

At University of Pittsburgh: 146 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $66,728 median earnings (Mechanical Engineering.)

Most engineering colleges admit students directly into the college rather than the university at large, and review them against a separate, usually more selective pool.

Check: Whether you apply to the engineering college directly, and what happens if you are not admitted — some schools offer general admission with a later transfer path, others do not.

Nursing Direct admit

At University of Pittsburgh: 308 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $60,207 median earnings (Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.)

Clinical placement requirements hard-cap how many students a nursing program can take, which routinely makes direct-entry nursing among the most selective programs on a campus.

Check: Whether the program is direct-entry or requires applying again in sophomore year, and how many seats it takes per cohort.

Business Direct admit

At University of Pittsburgh: 349 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $52,977 median earnings (Finance and Financial Management Services.)

Many undergraduate business schools admit their own cohort at application time and are more selective than the university overall; others admit only after two years of coursework.

Check: Whether the business school is direct-admit for first-years, and if not, what GPA the internal application actually requires.

Federal data shows no bachelor's completions at University of Pittsburgh in architecture or visual & performing arts, so those are not listed above. Small or new programs can be missing from federal reporting — confirm with the school before ruling one out.

What graduates earn, by major

Median earnings and median federal loan debt for bachelor's graduates of University of Pittsburgh, by field of study, from the U.S. Department of Education. Earnings differ far more between majors at one school than between schools.

MajorMedian earningsMedian debt
Biology, General. · Biological Sciences $25,926 —
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. · Nursing $60,207 —
Computer Science. · Computer Science $67,202 —
Finance and Financial Management Services. · Business $52,977 —
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. · Humanities $34,793 —
Neurobiology and Neurosciences. · Biological Sciences $21,964 —
Marketing. · Business $47,046 —
Economics. · Social Sciences $43,479 —
Mechanical Engineering. · Engineering $66,728 —
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. · Other Health Professions $31,314 —
Political Science and Government. · Social Sciences $25,484 —
History. · Humanities $26,933 —

Largest programs shown. Earnings are measured a few years after graduation and reflect who enrolls as much as what is taught.

Is University of Pittsburgh a reach, target, or safety for you?

Ladder2College models your personal admission odds and net cost here — based on your GPA, scores, and family income — and shows how it fits alongside the rest of your list.

Model my odds & cost — free

Figures are estimates modeled on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data and recent reporting, provided for guidance only. Always confirm cost with University of Pittsburgh’s official net price calculator and admissions figures with the school directly.