University of Pittsburgh

Not especially — the University of Pittsburgh is moderately selective, admitting about 59% of applicants in the most recent cycle from a pool of roughly 65,000. Admission is rolling rather than deadline-based, and enrolled first-years carry an average high school GPA around 4.13, so strong grades in a rigorous course load matter more than clearing a single cutoff.

The University of Pittsburgh admitted about 59% of applicants in the most recent cycle, receiving roughly 65,000 applications and enrolling around 5,900 first-year students. Because Pitt uses rolling admission, decisions go out throughout the cycle, so applying early generally works in your favor.

Pitt does not publish a separate out-of-state admit rate, but it draws a national class: about 35% of undergraduates come from outside Pennsylvania. State residency and geographical residence are each weighed only as 'considered' factors in Pitt's holistic review, so out-of-state applicants are evaluated on the same academic strengths as in-state ones, not penalized for residency the way some flagships do.

No — the University of Pittsburgh is test-optional, so you can apply without scores. Among recent first-years the middle 50% scored about 1270 to 1450 on the SAT and 29 to 33 on the ACT, and standardized tests are 'considered' rather than required, meaning a strong application can stand on grades and rigor alone.

Yes — a 1400 is a competitive score at Pitt, sitting comfortably in the upper half of enrolled students. The middle 50% of first-years scored 1270 to 1450 on the SAT (29 to 33 ACT), so a 1400 lands near the 75th percentile and is well worth submitting under Pitt's test-optional policy.

Admitted first-years at the University of Pittsburgh report an average high school GPA of about 4.13. There is no fixed minimum, but academic GPA and the rigor of your high school record are both weighed as very important factors, so competitive applicants pair strong grades with a demanding schedule.

For 2025-2026, annual tuition and required fees run about $22,736 for Pennsylvania residents and $43,432 for out-of-state students, with on-campus housing and food adding roughly $15,728. As a state-related public university, Pitt charges PA residents substantially less, so in-state status is the biggest single lever on cost.

Yes — the University of Pittsburgh rates the application essay as a very important factor, on par with GPA and the rigor of your coursework and above standardized test scores, which are only 'considered.' If you apply test-optional, the personal statement carries even more weight, making a specific, well-revised essay one of the clearest ways to stand out.

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