Increasing Access and Affordability
The University of Pittsburgh continues to make meaningful investments in our students, which wouldn’t be possible without Pitt's partnership with the state. For nearly 60 years, state lawmakers have passed Pitt's annual appropriation bill, which is used exclusively to fund reduced tuition for Pennsylvania’s students and families. This is significant—saving each in-state student and their family approximately $64,000 in tuition costs over a four-year undergraduate career. At the undergraduate level: Nearly 16,000 in-state students utilize this discount. Narrow the view to our four regional campuses: 85% of Pitt students benefit.
Ensuring access to—and affordability of—a world class Pitt education is a significant priority for the University as made clear by the number of programs and initiatives focused on reducing costs for Pitt students.
Our most significant commitment today date is the Pitt Success Program. The program launched in 2019 provides students receiving federal Pell Grants additional financial assistance to lower their debt stress and help them secure a world-class Pitt education. Pitt Success was the first program of its kind among public universities and necessitated the largest restructuring of financial aid in our University’s history. Today, the program continues to shape Pitt’s institutional aid disbursements and outcomes in powerful ways.
In fiscal year 2023, Pitt will invest $286 million in student financial aid— a 30% increase in our institutional stake relative to five years ago. The average institutional award size now tops $10,300 per student each year. On our regional campuses, the impact of this investment is clear—fueling a 41% drop in the number of undergraduates with unmet financial from 2014 to 2022.
Pitt is regularly included in The Princeton Review’s annual “Best Value Colleges” list and ranks #1 in value among all public colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, according to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
Here you'll find highlights of the University's most significant programs designed to make a world-class Pitt education a reality for as many students as possible.
Pitt Finish Line Grant
Beginning in the fall of 2024, the Pitt Finish Line Grant will give one-time, nonrenewable grants to eligible students with financial holds or unpaid balances so those students can stay enrolled and complete their degrees.
Pitt Success Program
The Pitt Success program consists of Pell match and grants available to students on all five of Pitt’s campuses. In 2019, the program kicked off the largest restructuring of financial aid in the institutions 236-year history. Since the program's inception, Pell-eligible graduates have graduated with less debt than their counterparts each year. 12,613 students have benefited from the program, including 1,092 students in the Class of 2023, the first cohort who were eligible to receive a Pitt Success Pell Match in their first year of enrollment.
Panthers Forward
Launched in 2018, the Panthers Forward program strives to lower a student’s overall debt burden by offsetting up to $5,000 of a participant’s eligible federal student loan balance. Instead of repaying this portion, students can voluntarily contribute to Panthers Forward after graduation—on their terms. In doing so, participants will be “paying it forward” to support the program and fellow Panthers who are following their path.
While at Pitt, students will also gain access to a network of Pitt alumni—called alumni ambassadors—who are dedicated to supporting students professional success.
PittFund$Me
PittFund$Me is a scholarship database, exclusive to current and incoming Pitt students. The tool enables students to search for thousands of additional University scholarship dollars, as well as national scholarship funding, which are linked to a range of success characteristics and personal traits.
RaiseMe
Starting in the first year of high school, RaiseMe participants can earn up to $28,000 in scholarship funds to help pay for a Pitt education on any campus. While in high school, students grow their RaiseMe scholarship dollars by meeting set objectives, such as serving the community, earning good grades and participating in extracurricular activities.
Coalition for College
Pitt is a founding member of the Coalition for College, a network of 140 distinguished colleges and universities across the United States that joined forces to increase student access to higher education.
Starting in high school, students can access a private virtual locker, where they can store important items form their high school experience that are likely to help them with the college application process.
As part of this initiative, Pitt offers qualified students—such as youth who are enrolled in free and reduced lunch program—a streamlined process for applying to coalition colleges at no cost.
Financial Literacy
Once students get to Pitt, the commitment to financial literacy continues with a suite of services under a financial wellness program for all campuses. There are a number of opportunities for students to learn how to manage their money and deb including a program called Grad Ready that is required for all incoming students. The program walks students through financial best practices to pay for college, manage money and repay any student loans a student schools to borrow.
Pittsburgh Admissions Collaboration
A first of its kind program, the Pittsburgh Admissions Collaboration gives any high school student attending a Pittsburgh Public School a clear pathway to go—and graduate from—college.
The collaboration is a three-member effort involving Pitt, the Pittsburgh Public Schools and the Community College of Allegheny County.
Students can participate in the collaboration in middle and high school, and their early engagement in the program involves learning about academic success, the college search process, life skills and financial literacy.
In addition, these students benefit from Pitt faculty, staff and mentors who are committed to supporting their academic career through college graduation.
Pittsburgh Public Scholars
The Pittsburgh Public Scholars program gives valedictorian and salutatorians in the Pittsburgh Public School system guaranteed admission to Pitt.
Called Pittsburgh Public Scholars, these students receive a four-year scholarship to attend on of Pitt’s five campuses. The University also meets all financial need of Pittsburgh Public Scholars who are Pell Grant Recipients.