University of Pittsburgh acceptance rate and your odds of getting in
University of Pittsburgh is a public university in Pennsylvania that admits most qualified applicants (around 58%), which puts it in the moderately selective range. A rate like this means it admits more applicants than it rejects; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.
Use this page to see what University of Pittsburgh weighs, where it ranks among Pennsylvania schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1400, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
What do students study at University of Pittsburgh?
Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.
Will I get into University of Pittsburgh?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Pittsburgh, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of Pittsburgh?
At University of Pittsburgh, your real chance depends on far more than the published 58% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Pittsburgh in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of Pittsburgh hard to get into?
University of Pittsburgh is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 58% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
What GPA do you need to get into University of Pittsburgh?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Pittsburgh, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. University of Pittsburgh reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
Your chances at University of Pittsburgh by GPA and SAT
Estimated chance of admission at University of Pittsburgh for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).
What are my chances at University of Pittsburgh with a 3.5 GPA and a 1370 SAT?
About 89% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 1370 SAT, the middle of University of Pittsburgh's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.8 GPA with a 1460 SAT comes out near 97%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.
Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/university-of-pittsburgh.
How to get into University of Pittsburgh
Built from University of Pittsburgh's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.
Getting into University of Pittsburgh comes down to four decisions, each one visible in the data on this page.
CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at University of Pittsburgh carries about a 3.36 core GPA and a 1410 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.
The admitted middle 50% is 1280 to 1460 SAT (29 to 33 ACT). Submit a score at 1370 or higher; below 1280, apply test-optional if the policy allows.
University of Pittsburgh rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.
Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by University of Pittsburgh's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.pitt.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.
How many students apply to University of Pittsburgh, and how many get in?
58,416 students applied to University of Pittsburgh for fall 2023; 29,034 were admitted (49.7%). 4,549 enrolled. Only about 16% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. University of Pittsburgh enrolls about 20,370 undergraduates in total, 58% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for University of Pittsburgh?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Pittsburgh scored between 1280 and 1460 on the SAT (average 1370). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 29 to 33. A score above 1460 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1280 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. University of Pittsburgh is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.
What University of Pittsburgh looks for
What University of Pittsburgh weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
University of Pittsburgh signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of Pittsburgh's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at University of Pittsburgh
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.
How much does University of Pittsburgh cost after financial aid?
University of Pittsburgh's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $38,105 per year. Tuition and fees are $21,926 for PA residents and $41,430 for out-of-state students, a $19,504 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $30,434 a year, and it ranges from $14,709 for families earning under $30,000 to $36,008 for families earning over $110,000. 14% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.
What do University of Pittsburgh graduates earn, and how many graduate?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Pittsburgh student who received federal aid earns $66,125 a year, up from $54,240 at six years. 86% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 92% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $24,250; 36% of undergraduates take federal loans.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.
How University of Pittsburgh compares in Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh ranks #17 most selective of 62 schools in Pennsylvania in our database.
Among the 62 Pennsylvania schools we track, University of Pittsburgh ranks #17 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of Pennsylvania (5%) and Swarthmore College (7%) sit nearby, which makes Pennsylvania a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to University of Pittsburgh
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
If University of Pittsburgh is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Alabama A&M University, Rutgers University, and Brooklyn College. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What is University of Pittsburgh's acceptance rate?
University of Pittsburgh admitted 29,034 of 58,416 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 49.7% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 16% of admitted students enrolled.
What SAT score do you need for University of Pittsburgh?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1280 to 1460 on the SAT and 29 to 33 on the ACT. A score above 1460 is in the top quarter of admits. University of Pittsburgh is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.
Is University of Pittsburgh test-optional?
Yes. University of Pittsburgh reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.
How much does University of Pittsburgh cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Pittsburgh, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $30,434 a year against a sticker price of about $38,105. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $14,709 on average.
What do University of Pittsburgh graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entering University of Pittsburgh are $66,125 a year among students who received federal aid, and 86% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).
What does University of Pittsburgh value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of Pittsburgh weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of Pittsburgh favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, University of Pittsburgh generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at University of Pittsburgh?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Pittsburgh specifically.
How does residency affect admission to University of Pittsburgh?
As a public university, University of Pittsburgh typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.
Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.