🎓 University of Pittsburgh Scholarships & Merit Aid (2025–2026)
← Back to the College Scholarships Hub • See Pennsylvania state aid
- Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
- Automatic and competitive scholarships (incl. Honors awards)
- Chancellor’s & Stamps full-ride scholarships
- Residency, reciprocity, and key application deadlines
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~58% (Fall 2024)
- Middle 50% GPA: 4.0–4.5 (weighted)
- Middle 50% SAT: 1310–1470
- Middle 50% ACT: 29–33
Source: University & federal-data summaries; third-party compilations citing Pitt.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
University of Pittsburgh at a Glance
Last verified: October 15, 2025
The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) combines broad automatic merit with a handful of elite, invitation-only scholarships. The Chancellor’s and Stamps Scholarships can reach full ride for top Frederick Honors College admits, while many applicants receive automatic merit based on strong academics.
Pitt remains test-optional through Fall 2028; applicants are reviewed holistically for admission and scholarships. While there’s no broad regional reciprocity, competitive merit and need-based aid can significantly lower the out-of-pocket cost for nonresidents.
💰 Cost of Attendance (2025–2026)
Figures below use the Dietrich School full-time (two terms) baseline. “Tuition & Fees” includes mandatory fees. Housing & Meals reflects a standard planning allowance so families can compare apples to apples across schools.
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees (two terms, Dietrich) | $22,736 | $43,432 |
| Housing & Meals (standard allowance) | $15,728 | $15,728 |
| Estimated Annual Total (before aid) | $38,464 | $59,160 |
Why books/transport/personal aren’t in the table: Pitt publishes these as part of a combined “other expenses” allowance that varies by student. To keep school-to-school comparisons clean, we list only Tuition & Fees and Housing & Meals in the table. Plan on an additional ~$2,500–$3,500 per year for books, supplies, transportation, personal, and loan fees depending on your situation.
- No general reciprocity (e.g., WUE/NEBHE) for Pitt — non-residents are billed at the out-of-state rate.
- GI Bill® in-state adjustment: Veterans and eligible dependents with a VA Certificate of Eligibility are billed at the in-state tuition rate.
- PA Residency: Students who meet Pennsylvania residency policy are charged in-state rates.
Example: Dietrich non-resident tuition adjusts from $41,662 to $20,966 with GI Bill® in-state status — a $20,696 tuition difference before fees and other costs.
Sources: https://financialaid.pitt.edu/types-of-aid/scholarships/ • https://financialaid.pitt.edu/page_tag/tution-exchange-options/ • https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/university-of-pittsburgh/tuition-and-costs
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships
Pitt automatically reviews all first-year applicants for merit scholarships—no separate application required, as long as you apply by the priority deadline. GPA and test score “cutoffs” change each year and are not officially published.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Merit Awards | $2,000 – full tuition/year | Strong GPA (often 3.7–3.9+), SAT (superscored, 1380+ best), ACT (highest single comp, usually 30+); rigor matters | No | Yes (maintain SAP and full-time enrollment) | Most merit is $5K–$10K/yr (mid/high range); full tuition rare (~top 5% of admits, 1490+ SAT/33+ ACT, top transcript) | Dec 1 (priority) |
| International Student Scholarship | Up to $10,000/year | Non-U.S. citizens; competitive grades/rank and strong application | No | Yes (keep grades/SAP) | Top ~25% of international admits; high academics needed | Feb 1 (preferred) |
Does Pitt superscore test scores for scholarships? Yes, for SAT (section-by-section), no for ACT (highest single score is used).
What’s the deadline for consideration? Dec 1 for priority merit scholarship review; Feb 1 for international students. Submit all scores by the deadline.
Are awards guaranteed at certain scores? No—Pitt doesn’t publish guaranteed GPA/SAT/ACT cutoffs for scholarships. Ranges above are based on recent results.
*GPA/test bands and ranges above reflect recent recipients; actual thresholds shift each year as Pitt uses a holistic and dynamic merit model.
🏆 Competitive Scholarships
These awards require a separate application and/or interview, and have a limited number of slots. Meeting the baseline does not guarantee selection; strong essays, leadership, and service are important.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chancellor’s Scholarship | Full tuition, room, board, fees | U.S. citizens, Pitt Honors admit | Yes—automatic with Pitt Honors application (priority Dec 1) | Yes (yearly, if GPA/service met) | ~4.0 UW GPA, SAT 1500+/ACT 34+, AP/IB rigor, top service/leadership (estimate) | Dec 1 (priority Honors App) |
| Nordenberg Leadership Scholars | Full tuition + enrichment | PA residents, U.S. citizens, strong academics/leadership | Yes—PA Scholars App by Nov 15, interview for finalists | Yes (maintain GPA/leadership) | ~3.9+ GPA, SAT 1450+/ACT 32+, top service leaders (estimate) | Nov 15 (PA Scholars App) |
| Stamps Scholarship | Full COA + $17,400 enrichment funds | PA residents, U.S. citizens, outstanding academic and service profile | Yes—PA Scholars App by Nov 15, competitive interview | Yes (GPA, program requirements) | 4.0 GPA, SAT 1500+/ACT 34+, top ranked service/leadership (estimate) | Nov 15 (PA Scholars App) |
*GPA/test score bands above are estimates from past cohorts and recipient profiles; Pitt does not publish fixed benchmarks, and criteria can change annually.
🎖️ David C. Frederick Honors College
At Pitt, the Frederick Honors College provides highly motivated students with seminar-style classes, personalized advising, and access to mentoring, research funding, and an Honors living community—without sacrificing access to the resources of a world-class research university.
- Separate application required: Apply with the Pitt app + Honors essay, by December 1 for priority. Most successful admits: GPA ~3.8+, SAT 1450–1500 / ACT 32–33 (not strict cutoffs).
- Priority registration (starting first spring), Honors academic advising, research and creative grants, and Honors residence hall access (Sutherland Hall and others).
Honors College graduation requires 18 Honors academic credits, 6 experiential credits (e.g., research or abroad), completion of the Honors Outside the Classroom Curriculum, and GPA maintenance of 3.25+.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick Honors College Research Fellowship | $1,000–$4,000 (project-based) | Honors College students with faculty-mentored research/creative projects | Yes — proposal process | No (project-based) | Juniors/seniors pursuing research or advanced projects | Fall/spring deadlines |
| Honors College Study Abroad Scholarship | $500–$2,000/trip | Honors students accepted to credit-bearing study abroad | Yes — study abroad app | No (per trip) | Active Honors students with a strong proposal | Rolling; see program dates |
| Brackenridge Fellowships | $4,000 summer stipend | Undergraduates (any major), research or creative project, faculty support | Yes — project application | No (summer) | Mostly juniors/seniors, many Honors students | February (for summer) |
GPA: ~3.8–4.0 unweighted*
SAT: 1450–1500* / ACT: 32–33*
Several AP/IB or rigorous honors courses; strong record in leadership, creative, or service areas.
*Estimates are based on recent cohorts. No fixed cutoff—Pitt considers each applicant holistically.
⭐ College Specialty
While health sciences dominate Pitt’s national profile, the university also excels in other academic areas that can open doors for students across disciplines:
- Philosophy — regularly ranked among the top programs in the world.
- Engineering — strong in bioengineering, materials science, and sustainability research.
- Public & International Affairs — well-regarded graduate and undergraduate programs with policy and global studies focus.