University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus at a Glance
The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. The university is composed of seventeen undergraduate and graduate schools and colleges at its urban Pittsburgh campus, home to the university's central administration and over 31,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The 132-acre Pittsburgh campus includes various historic buildings that are part of the Schenley Farms Historic District, most notably its 42-story Gothic revival centerp…
1787
239 years old
$6.2B
$6.15 billion (2025)
35,528
25,679 undergrad · 9,849 grad
6,074
132 acres
Identity
Is University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Worth It?
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus offers moderate value at $30,434/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $66,125, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.8 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 85% graduation rate means roughly 15% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #11 of 11 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #3 | Stony Brook University | 76 | $18,784 | $74,502 |
| #4 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 71 | $17,890 | $68,396 |
| #5 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 71 | $24,953 | $81,698 |
| #6 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | 67 | $22,383 | $71,631 |
| #11 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | 46 | $30,434 | $66,125 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
The highest-earning program at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at $68,300/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Film/Video and Photographic Arts at $21,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduate from University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus earns $68,300, while a Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduate earns $21,000. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates carry $27,000 in median debt vs. $21,250 for Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $30,434/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $68,300 | $68,300 | $27,000 |
| Industrial Engineering | $67,300 | $67,300 | $27,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $64,000 | $64,000 | $27,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $63,500 | $63,500 | $27,000 |
| Computer Science | $63,100 | $63,100 | $27,000 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $63,100 | $63,100 | $21,500 |
| Computer Engineering | $62,200 | $62,200 | $27,000 |
| Civil Engineering | $60,600 | $60,600 | $27,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $58,800 | $58,800 | $25,000 |
| Information Science/Studies | $56,400 | $56,400 | $25,000 |
| Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $55,600 | $55,600 | $27,000 |
| Applied Mathematics | $55,200 | $55,200 | $26,908 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $53,200 | $53,200 | $27,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $52,800 | $52,800 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $52,600 | $52,600 | $26,491 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $50,200 | $50,200 | $24,213 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $49,800 | $49,800 | $26,851 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $44,900 | $44,900 | $25,000 |
| Marketing | $42,900 | $42,900 | $27,000 |
| Economics | $41,900 | $41,900 | $24,875 |
| Chemistry | $35,600 | $35,600 | $27,000 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $35,100 | $35,100 | $26,978 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $34,800 | $34,800 | $26,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $34,100 | $34,100 | $26,281 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $34,000 | $34,000 | $19,500 |
| Mathematics | $33,700 | $33,700 | $25,500 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $32,000 | $32,000 | $24,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $31,700 | $31,700 | $21,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $30,600 | $30,600 | $27,000 |
| Literature | $30,300 | $30,300 | $23,750 |
| Social Work | $30,300 | $30,300 | $25,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $30,200 | $30,200 | $26,000 |
| Social Sciences, Other | $30,200 | $30,200 | $24,125 |
| Psychology, General | $29,500 | $29,500 | $27,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $28,500 | $28,500 | $25,995 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $28,300 | $28,300 | $24,500 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $28,100 | $28,100 | $27,000 |
| Biology, General | $27,600 | $27,600 | $27,000 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $26,200 | $26,200 | $27,000 |
| Anthropology | $25,600 | $25,600 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $25,500 | $25,500 | $27,000 |
| Sociology | $25,500 | $25,500 | $27,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $25,200 | $25,200 | $27,000 |
| History | $25,200 | $25,200 | $26,295 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $24,800 | $24,800 | $26,963 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $21,000 | $21,000 | $21,250 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Student Body
- 20,370 students
- Admission Rate
- 58%
- Graduation Rate
- 85%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $30,434
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $66,125
- Median Student Debt
- $24,250