Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
U. Pittsburgh admits about 6 in 10 applicants (58%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 78% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$55 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 56%, women at 60%.
Yield
13% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 6,245 offered a place, 3,198 accepted, 84 admitted (2.6% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Doesn't offer early decision or early action
Where you stand
How U. Pittsburgh reads a record
and GPA are both very important; class rank and tests are both considered. This college reports (average 4.06), so its GPA figures can't show how crowded unweighted GPAs are. Scores are optional. 40% of first-years sent an SAT and 8% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Of the 29% whose high school reported a rank, 40% were in the top tenth.
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Very important | ||||
| Recommendations | Considered | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Not considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Considered | ||||
| Talent or ability | Important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Important | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Important | ||||
| Work experience | Important | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Important | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; English proficiency test required; other tests considered
Transferring in
53% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 58% of first-year applicants
2,645 applied · 1,413 admitted · 771 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall, spring, and summer.
Dates
- Fall entry: decisions on a rolling basis
- Spring entry: decisions on a rolling basis
- Summer entry: decisions on a rolling basis
What the application needs
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Recommended
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by July 30 for fall 2026.
- Decisions are sent on a rolling basis starting August 30.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within 2 weeks if admitted later.
- $325 housing deposit, due June 1, non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 year.
Recent change: Started considering work experience in fall 2023.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 4.06, weighted
This average gives extra points for honors and AP courses, so it runs above 4.0 and can't be compared with an unweighted GPA.
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
This college publishes an average but not a breakdown.
40% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 73% in the top quarter, of the 29% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1365 on the SAT, 195 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
44% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
Shares of the 40% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)