Funding & Scholarship Opportunities

Pitt is here to provide you with an exceptional educational experience as well as the financial support to make it happen. 

Admission to the graduate program does not imply the granting of financial aid or funding. Review the  opportunities listed below and the information on the Office of the Provost Graduate Studies Funding webpage to find out more about how funding and financial aid works at the graduate level in the Swanson School of Engineering. 

Tuition Rates and Fees

The University of Pittsburgh is a top-ranked public institution that is committed to excellence. Pitt’s current tuition and mandatory fee rates can be found on the tuition website.

Student Appointment Funding Opportunities

The Swanson School of Engineering offers a limited number of highly competitive teaching and research assistantships primarily at the PhD level. Funding can potentially cover tuition costs and include a living stipend. 

Appointment opportunities include:

  • Fellowships - awarded to students of outstanding ability. The funding is usually an unrestricted grant.
  • Traineeships - awarded to students for training in selected areas. There may be restrictions on the courses that may be taken.
  • Teaching Assistantships and Teaching Fellowships - awarded to exceptionally well-prepared students in return for assistance in laboratories, recitation sections, and other teaching duties. Partial or full tuition scholarships are also provided.
  • Research Assistantships - awarded to students for assistance on research programs.        

Select the PhD program you are interested in on the Programs & Degrees webpage to find out more about the funding opportunities in your desired program.

There is no additional application to be considered for funding. Simply answer the question on the EngineeringCAS application for our PhD programs that you are interested in being considered for a teaching or research assistantship, and submit a complete application by your desired department’s Financial Consideration deadline. 

Any details of potential funding opportunities would come directly from the Engineering department you are applying to. 

You should contact your desired program’s department with questions or concerns regarding funding opportunities through funded appointments. Questions can be directed to the department contact listed here.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

Available to US Citizens and Permanent Residents, the Federal FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is more than a tool to get student loans. It is often used to award scholarships, grants, and work study funding. When used in tandem with our PittFund$Me scholarship system, having FAFSA on file with Pitt helps provide the best opportunities for resources to help pay for your graduate or professional education. 

For information on navigating FAFSA visit: https://financialaid.pitt.edu/graduate-students/

PittFund$Me

PittFund$Me is a financial aid tool that can connect you, a Pitt student, to relevant scholarships. As a current Pitt student, you can log into PittFund$Me – hosted on the Scholarship Universe system – and answer a series of profile questions. The adaptive matching engine will display scholarship opportunities that are tailored to you. And don’t worry – you’ll only see institutional scholarships and vetted outside scholarships so you can be confident as you submit your scholarship applications. You’ll be able to manage all of your applications right in a personalized dashboard – and we’ll even post alerts for new scholarships that might be interesting to you. You must own the scholarship search process – and we know it’s important to you. That’s why we want to help make it as easy as possible for you to feel totally in control.

As this program is generally focused on undergraduates, graduate students should follow this link and learn more to see how this program can apply to them.

Pitt2Pitt

Pitt2Pitt is a scholarship program that can help graduating University of Pittsburgh seniors complete a Pitt master's degree or certificate program. This program is offering streamlined admissions with funds distributed over the Fall and Spring semester. Scholarship amounts vary depending on full vs. part-time students. Please follow this link so see if your MS program aligns with P2P and if you meet the qualifications for this scholarship opportunity.

University of Pittsburgh & Engineering Scholarships

The University of Pittsburgh and the Swanson School of Engineering provides a number of fellowship and scholarship opportunities to graduate students. Information on University of Pittsburgh scholarships and fellowships can be found here. You should contact your desired program’s department with questions or concerns regarding any potential Pitt or Engineering scholarship or fellowship opportunities. Questions can be directed to the department contact listed here.

External Fellowship Opportunities

We encourage all eligible graduate students to apply for external fellowship and grant funding from federal agencies, private foundations, and other external sources. The Office of the Provost maintains a listing of external fellowship opportunities here, plus external fellowship application tips here.     

The Office of Diversity Opportunities

The Office of Diversity offers numerous scholarships, fellowships, and immersive experiences to eligible students. Please see the list of graduate scholarships below to learn more about the programs and see how it can apply to your financial aid plan.

  • The GEES Scholarship: this program provides access to MS degree through scholarships and bridge programs with several three-semester thesis or project-based Master of Science degree programs in any of the engineering degree programs. The GEES program will provide partial scholarships for eligible MS students to support their financial needs. Learn more about the program and access the program’s application here.
  • PITT STRIVE: these programs provide eligible students with opportunities to access campus facilities, experience graduate research, and to connect and begin to build relationships with faculty members. These exposures will allow you to narrow your research interests and determine how graduate school can be there for you. Follow the links below for more information and to see if you are an eligible student.