Pittsburgh is a college town: 16 of every 100 residents are students
The University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (33,505 students on campus) and Carnegie Mellon University (15,082) are inside the city. Across Pennsylvania, 6 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Pittsburgh. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
16
79,357 students on campus
Nearest college
0.6 mi
Carlow University
Residents in college
16%
Above PA (6%)
Nearest community college
2.4 mi
Community College of Allegheny County · $4,842 tuition
Nearest public university
1.2 mi
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · $21,926 in-state
Students on campus in Pittsburgh
71,109
next to 307,632 residents
What stands out about college in Pittsburgh
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 19.8% of Pittsburgh residents are below the poverty line, 16.5% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 1 points either way). 46% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.
Cost of living B−
The Cost grade counts the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent, leaving it out only where students are a quarter of residents or more. Here they are 16%, so student incomes still weigh on that figure.
Health B+
CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and Pittsburgh’s median age is 33.6 (Pennsylvania 40.9), so the adult figures describe a young population.
Safety D
Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.
Every college
Colleges within 15 miles of Pittsburgh
13 private colleges within 13.5 miles, two public colleges within 10.2 miles, and four community colleges.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What it costs
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Family income
Starts at $48–75k, where Pittsburgh’s median household income ($65,742) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Outcomes
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Pittsburgh: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus86% graduate$66k earnings*$24k typical debt
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny19% graduate$63k earnings*$25k typical debt
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (5); Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny (22).
Majors
What students study in Pittsburgh
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Pittsburgh’s 8 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Health professions 16%Business 11%Engineering 8%Interdisciplinary 6%Psychology 5%Biology 5%Everything else 49%
Biggest programs
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesCommunity College of Allegheny County · 484 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralUniversity of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · 308 graduates a year
$63k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · 308 graduates a year
$83k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCommunity College of Allegheny County · 308 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Computer ScienceCarnegie Mellon University · 270 graduates a year
$268k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingDuquesne University · 259 graduates a year
$85k4 yrs out
Computer ScienceUniversity of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · 195 graduates a year
$109k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesUniversity of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · 182 graduates a year
$95k4 yrs out
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc, where most students study only online.
Questions about college in Pittsburgh
Is Pittsburgh a college town?
Yes. 16 of every 100 Pittsburgh residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 6 across Pennsylvania. The University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus has 33,505 students on campus, next to 307,632 residents.
What colleges are in Pittsburgh?
The University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, Carnegie Mellon University, Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne University and 6 more are inside the city.
Why is Pittsburgh’s poverty rate so high?
Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 19.8% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 16.5% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 1 points).
What is the closest community college to Pittsburgh, and what does it cost?
Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, 2.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,842 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $13,970, counts housing and food at full cost.
How hard is it to get into the University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?
The University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus admitted 58% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year; the middle half of admitted students scored 1,280–1,460 on the SAT.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Pittsburgh. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →
Photo: Dllu · CC BY-SA 4.0