Study in Pittsburgh, The United States

About Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a city in western Pennsylvania, in the north-east of the United States, built where rivers meet; the University of Pittsburgh notes that the city has more than 440 bridges. For students it is above all a university city: four universities in our directory have their main campus here, from a large public research university to a small private university in the city centre.

Students choose Pittsburgh for research universities with strong engineering, computer science and health programmes, for the choice between large and small campuses, and for a city where several universities sit close together. Courses are taught in English.

Studying in Pittsburgh

All four schools listed under Pittsburgh are universities. College Navigator, the U.S. Department of Education's college database, gives these profiles:

• University of Pittsburgh (Pitt): a public university on Fifth Avenue with 35,724 students, 25,900 of them undergraduates; its 42-storey Cathedral of Learning stands at the centre of the campus
• Carnegie Mellon University (CMU): a private not-for-profit university on Forbes Avenue with 15,888 students, 7,377 of them undergraduates. It opened the first robotics institute at a U.S. university and, in 1988, the first college in the world devoted only to computer science
• Duquesne University: a private Roman Catholic university with 8,234 students, 5,371 of them undergraduates
• Point Park University: a private not-for-profit university on Wood Street in downtown Pittsburgh with 3,448 students, 2,337 of them undergraduates

Students who come for a full degree need an F student visa, which covers study at an accredited college or university. After admission, the university's international office issues a Form I-20, which is used to apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate. According to EducationUSA, the academic year usually runs from September to May, and international students may work on campus for up to 20 hours a week in their first year.

Cost of living for students

College Navigator gives these figures for full-time beginning undergraduates in the 2024-25 academic year:

• University of Pittsburgh: $41,430 in out-of-state tuition and fees, and $13,620 for food and housing on campus
• Carnegie Mellon University: $66,246 in tuition and fees, and $18,166 for food and housing on campus
• Duquesne University: $48,986 in tuition and fees, and $16,374 for food and housing on campus
• Point Park University: $39,570 in tuition and fees, and $13,960 for food and housing on campus

As a public university, Pitt has a lower rate for Pennsylvania residents; the figure above is the out-of-state rate. These figures do not include health insurance, books or travel, and prices for international students can differ, so check each university's current cost of attendance.

On Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), a 3-hour pass costs $2.75, a day pass $7 and a 31-day pass $97.50, and transfers are free for three hours when you pay with a card or mobile ticket. Ask your university whether it offers a student transit pass before buying one.

Getting around and daily life

PRT runs buses across Allegheny County, a light rail network that links neighbourhoods with downtown, and the historic inclines that climb the city's hills. The 28X Airport Flyer bus connects Pittsburgh International Airport with downtown and Oakland, where Pitt and Carnegie Mellon are located, and runs every 30 to 40 minutes from about 5 a.m. to midnight.

Pittsburgh has four clear seasons. At Pittsburgh International Airport, the 1991-2020 normals of NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information give an average temperature of 28.8 °F (about -2 °C) in January and 73.2 °F (about 23 °C) in July, so students need a proper winter coat.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Pittsburgh?

Our directory lists the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University and Point Park University. Pitt is public; the other three are private not-for-profit universities.

How much does it cost to study in Pittsburgh?

For 2024-25, College Navigator gives tuition and fees from $39,570 at Point Park University to $66,246 at Carnegie Mellon, and $41,430 for out-of-state students at Pitt. Food and housing on campus adds between $13,620 and $18,166.

How do I get from the airport to the universities?

The PRT 28X Airport Flyer bus runs from Pittsburgh International Airport to downtown Pittsburgh and Oakland every 30 to 40 minutes.

How cold is Pittsburgh in winter?

The average January temperature at Pittsburgh International Airport is 28.8 °F (about -2 °C), according to NOAA's 1991-2020 normals.