Quad
U. Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania State

Key differences on Cost & aid

  1. 1

    U. Pittsburgh's grants cover 19% of its full price on average, vs. 9% at Pennsylvania State

    Aid generosity
  2. 2

    U. Pittsburgh costs about $7.1K less per year on average than Pennsylvania State ($37,774 vs. $44,836, all students)

    Average cost, all students

Cost & aid

Cost & aid

Average cost, aid generosity, net price by family income, sticker prices, and grants.

What students pay

Average cost, all students
U. Pittsburgh$37.8K
Pennsylvania State$44.8K
Aid generosity
U. Pittsburgh19%
Pennsylvania State9%
Net price, with grants
U. Pittsburgh$25.2K
Pennsylvania State$27.9K

Grants

First-years receiving grants
U. Pittsburgh53%
Pennsylvania State37%
Average grant
U. Pittsburgh$16.5K
Pennsylvania State$11.3K
Aid from the college
U. Pittsburgh52%
Pennsylvania State34%

Sticker prices

On one scale, so the bars read against each other.

Sticker price, in-state
U. Pittsburgh$38.4K
Pennsylvania State$39.9K
Sticker price, out-of-state
U. Pittsburgh$56.8K
Pennsylvania State$59.8K
Tuition & fees, in-state
U. Pittsburgh$21.5K
Pennsylvania State$20.2K
Tuition & fees, out-of-state
U. Pittsburgh$39.9K
Pennsylvania State$40.2K
First-years paying out-of-state rates
U. Pittsburgh44%
Pennsylvania State46%
What families at each income pay

Up to $110K: the average net price per year for students receiving federal aid, 2023–24; families who didn't file the FAFSA aren't included. Above it the published data end. For your own number, use the college's net price calculator .

Family income per year $150K

  • U. PittsburghLittle need-based aid above $110K
  • Pennsylvania StateLittle need-based aid above $110K

Published (federal figure, up to $110K) EstimateBars share one scale: the largest full price.

Where need-based aid ends, merit, and published promises

MetricU. PittsburghPennsylvania State
Need-based aid up to Little need-based aid above $110KLittle need-based aid above $110K
Merit for students without need ––
Published promise ––

A college's own promise is stated for a typical family and changes yearly; where a promise and our estimate disagree, the promise wins. Merit has no income limit, so it can lower the price above the point where need-based aid ends.

Tuition guarantee & Promise program

MetricU. PittsburghPennsylvania State
Tuition guarantee NoNo
Promise program YesNo

From the colleges' Common Data Sets

MetricU. PittsburghPennsylvania State
Aid forms FAFSAFAFSA
Aid priority date or deadline ––
Need met, first-years 58%62%
Average aid package, first-years $20,104$10,885
College grant dollars given as merit 22%22%
Aid for international students OfferedNot offered

All cost numbers in the table

Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, 2024–25;College Scorecard, most recent release;Common Data Set, most recent release;University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Common Data Set 2022–23, Fall 2023 entrants;Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Common Data Set 2022–23, 2022–23About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why