An Introduction to Colleges & Universities in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was founded in 1758. As the site of the nation’s largest inland port, it became a central hub of commerce and industry during the heyday of heavy manufacturing and steel production. With the general collapse of these industries in the U.S., Pittsburgh had to find something new. Over the last forty years, the city and surrounding Allegheny County has bounced back, attracting technology companies, students, communications firms, and much more. Today it is once again a thriving area, with a county population of 1,300,000.

The City of Pittsburgh is located at the intersection of three rivers; the Allegheny, the Ohio, and the Monongahela. It has thirty river-crossing bridges, and glancing down the Allegheny River gives one a beautiful view of many of the unique bridges (Allegheny County is said to have some 2,000 bridges in all). The well-designed PNC Park hosts the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the beloved Steelers play at Heinz Field. The Mellon Arena and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center host many exciting conventions, concerts and other gatherings each year. The Convention Center is actually the largest “green” (environmentally-friendly) building in the country, and has been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is the region’s largest employer and a leader in fields such as transplantation, psychiatry, cancer treatment, and women’s health. Schools such as the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, and Carnegie Mellon University attract bright leaders in their fields, bringing innovation, technology and creativity to the region.

In 2000, there were 334,563 people living in the City of Pittsburgh; among those 25 and older, 26.2% had at least a Bachelor’s degree. According to the 2003 census, there were 1,261,303 people in Allegheny County; 28.3% of those over 25 had earned at least a Bachelor’s degree.

Going to School in Pittsburgh

Allegheny County is the second-most populous county in Pennsylvania and, as such, it has many higher education institutions in the area:

Public Schools:

• Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC)
• University of Pittsburgh (Pitt)
• Pennsylvania State University, McKeesport campus (Penn State, McKeesport)

Mike Hall, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions at CMU, explains that popular majors in the area seem to be specific to the institutions themselves: “By the sheer numbers, students come to CMU for engineering and computer science as well as our natural science programs – for the technical areas….At the same time, students go to Pitt for the pre-professional programs, because they are great programs. You will also have a mix of liberal arts, of course, at institutions such as Duquesne and Point Park. So really it’s a good balance.”

Costs

Tuition at Chatham, a four-year undergraduate college, is $11,435 per semester. For Pitt’s undergraduate programs, Pennsylvania residents pay $5,368 per semester; out-of-state residents pay $10,042. One year at CMU costs $31,650 – figures per semester were not available. County residents pay $80/credit to attend CCAC (so, 15 credits in one semester would cost $1,200).

Most schools offer on-campus housing and meal plans. Off-campus housing is usually quite reasonable and accessible to the bus lines, shuttles, and universities – most off-campus students live within easy walking distance to their school. Off-campus apartments in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh (CMU & Pitt) run about $545/month for a two-bedroom apartment; apartments in Squirrel Hill, the North Side and Downtown ( areas close for students at Point Park, Duquesne, and the Art Institute) can be more expensive but are still within most budgets. The Housing Resource Center at the University of Pittsburgh has more information: http://www.pitt.edu/~property/costs.html An additional bonus is that the cost-of-living in Pittsburgh is considered low when compared to other North American cities.

Financial Aid

Most students are not able to go to school without some kind of financial assistance. Luckily, Pennsylvania has many programs in place to help!

First, a student fills out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA). In addition to being online, the form is available from high school guidance counselors and college admissions offices. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistant Agency (PHEAA) has more information here to help students with finding financial aid for attending school in Pittsburgh. Students should also pursue privately-offered scholarships early on in the college-search process - the site EducationPlanner.org is a good place to start.

Pennsylvania State Grants
These grants allow Pennsylvania residents to receive assistance to attend PHEAA-approved institutions. Filling out the FASFA starts the program application process.

Work-Study Programs
The state-sponsored program provides students with employment in technology and community-service fields. Students gain on-the-job experience while earning money to help pay for college. Students work part-time, 10-15 hours per week (up to 40 hours per week in the summer). Federal Work-Study programs are similar.

Student Loans
Perkins Loan
The Perkins loan is a low-interest loan that is based on the student’s financial need. The Federal government provides some of the funds, and the school contributes the rest. When the student repays the loan, he or she actually repays the school directly.

Stafford Loans
The Stafford Loan program is the most popular federally-administered program. It is available for both undergraduate and graduate students. Loans are either subsidized or unsubsidized - subsidized loans are ones in which the government pays the interest of your loan while the student is enrolled – these loans are based on financial need. Unsubsidized loans accrue interest while the student is in school – this interest needs to be paid back.

PLUS Loans
The Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) program allows parents to borrow up to the difference between their child’s financial aid package and the cost of school.

Private Loans
Private loans are offered through financial institutions. They are often higher-interest and will have different terms; however, they can relieve the burden of high-cost education for many families. Private loans can often be used for expenses outside of tuition and fees, such as books, housing, study abroad, etc.

Internships

Like many other regions, Pittsburgh would like to retain some of its talented students after they graduate. There are several initiatives, including the Regional Internship Center of Southwestern PA (RIC), devoted to connecting students and employers. RIC helps bring businesses, groups, and student interns together, providing students with valuable learning experience and businesses with fresh talent. The community also benefits – “The RIC believes that students with internship experience are more inclined to stay in the region after graduation,” explains Jackie Nameth, Manager of RIC. “Thus, internships are a way to grow, develop, and retain our region’s emerging workforce.”

Most area schools have internship programs, and some top-notch programs require internships so students can get experience in the field. Such is the case with Pittsburgh Technical Institute, where “[e]very Associate in Science degree and selected certificate programs at Pittsburgh Technical Institute include an industry internship as a required educational component,” says Linda Allan, Director of Public Relations. Internships are especially helpful for students in technical programs – as well as the companies they intern for!

In fact, Pittsburgh has a lot of internship opportunities – and these can translate to job opportunities. Pittsburgh has a good mix of large, medium and small companies that hire interns and graduates, so graduates have a choice of what size company they work for, explains Ms. Nameth of RIC. “Pittsburgh [also] has a huge non-profit industry, which typically offers students the ability to have a very hands-on internship experience.”

Here is just a sampling of businesses and groups in the area that offer internships:

• Pitt’s Institute of Politics - places students with local politicians and campaigns for the summer term. The program is great for political science, communications, public relations, business, non-profit management, and public administration majors.
• The Gateway Clipper Fleet - provides river cruises in Pittsburgh, hires hospitality management interns.
• Clear Channel Communications - options for communications and arts majors
• WDUQ - Local public radio station.
• The Mattress Factory - museum of contemporary art, offers internships.
• The Silver Eye Center for Photography - accepts interns.
• The Andy Warhol Museum - hires interns.

Employment in Pittsburgh

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1,081,690 people were employed in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area in 2004. The average (mean) hourly wage was $16.85, or around $35,050/year for all occupations in the survey.

A quick glance around downtown buildings reveals Pittsburgh’s strengths: education; technology and industry research and development; health care and insurance; and financial institutions. Pittsburgh offers a good mix of large companies, medium- and small-sized companies, non-profits, and government agencies.

Large companies include:

• Alcoa
• Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield
• UMPC
• Mellon Bank
• PNC Bank
• Duquesne Light Company
• Bayer Corporation

For additional ideas, check out the internship links above, since some organizations are able to offer qualified interns full-time employment after graduation.

Summary

There are plenty of opportunities in Pittsburgh, from recreation and entertainment to serious studying and rewarding careers. Mike Hall of CMU offered this: “Pittsburgh is a great city…You’re in the city, a great urban environment, but then you’ve got Ohiopyle, the Appalachian Mountains, only an hour away. It is a good mix of urban and nature.”