Undergraduate Financial Aid

Applying for college can seem intimidating, but the University of Pittsburgh provides many tools to help prospective undergraduate students and their families navigate the application, admission, and financial aid process. Please note the Swanson School of Engineering is not directly involved in the admission, financial aid, or scholarship process for students applying to enter as first-years. Contact the University Office of Admissions and Financial Aid with any questions you have regarding your admission status or merit or need-based financial aid. Transfer students should visit the Transfer Students Admissions Process for more information.

Cost Estimates

Because tuition and fees vary depending on your residency and program of study, Financial Aid developed the Tuition and Fees tool to help families estimate cost of attendance at Pitt. For more detailed information about tuition and fees, visit Institutional Research. If you’re planning to live and dine on campus, visit the Panther Central website.

Pitt Fits is the university’s net price calculator which allows prospective students to enter information about themselves and receive an estimate of your financial aid and out-of-pocket costs at your Pitt campus. The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 requires all U.S. universities to have a net price calculator located on their websites.

What is FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is a free and incredibly important tool for prospective students and their families to determine financial aid eligibility. All first-time applicants in Pennsylvania must submit their application no later than May 1 each year. Before you complete the FAFSA form, the Federal Student Aid Estimator can help you understand your options to pay for college by providing an early estimate of your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and eligibility for federal student aid.

Academic Scholarships

Pitt merit scholarships are based on a combination of outstanding academic achievement, holistic factors provided in a candidate’s personal statement or Common Application essay, and potential for scholarly contributions to the University of Pittsburgh community. Incoming first-year students who apply for admission and complete all required materials by December 1 are automatically considered for University of Pittsburgh academic scholarships; however, early application is highly recommended.