University of Pittsburgh

History, Affiliations and Rankings

Originally founded in the year 1787, the University of Pittsburgh has seen decades of educational transformation in the country. The official name "University of Pittsburgh" was adopted in the year 1908. Since its collaboration with the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, the institution has reached greater heights. Hugh Henry Brackenridge founded the University of Pittsburgh as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787, and it is one of just a few institutions and universities in the United States that were founded in the 18th century. It is the oldest continually chartered institution of higher learning west of the Allegheny Mountains in the United States. The school originated as a preparatory school, most likely in a log cabin in Western Pennsylvania, which was then a frontier state. The academy may have evolved from a school that existed prior to the charter's issuance, maybe as early as 1770. Brackenridge acquired a charter for the school from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's state government on February 28, 1787, only ten weeks before the start of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. As founder Brackenridge was Scottish, the institution quickly began teaching the fundamentals of the "holy six" Scottish universities. The Pittsburgh Academy was housed in a brick building on the south side of Third Street and Cherry Alley in 1790. The little two-story brick building had three rooms: one below and two above, with a gable facing the alley.

Infrastructure, Campuses and Courses

Now situated in Oakland, the university has a vast 200-year-old campus covering over 132 acres of land. Its magnificent historical infrastructure can be seen by its 42-storey centrepiece 'Cathedral of Learning' which brings in the essence of Gothic culture elegantly. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and its flagship hospital, UPMC Presbyterian, as well as the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Schenley Park, and Carnegie Mellon University, are all nearby. The university is not only known for its work in the field of liberal arts, but also excels in disciplines of science, research, and humanities. With approximately 30,000 yearly applications for undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional degrees, the university is undoubtedly in demand for its profound educational capabilities. Not very far from Carnegie Mellon University, the area is a hub for young researchers and leaders. 

Accomplishments and Alumni

Pittsburgh is proud to have an institution which is a recipient of Green Star Awards offered by the Professional Grounds Management Society for the remarkable campus that has been maintained over the years. Pitt has eight Rhodes Scholars, ten Marshall Scholars, and 297 Fulbright Scholars among its alumni. Six Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, three Academy Award winners, various members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, seven United States senators, three United States cabinet officials, and five United States state governors are among the current and former faculty and alumni at Pitt. Pitt participates in NCAA Division I as the Pittsburgh Panthers, primarily as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Pitt athletes have won five Olympic medals in total. Paul Lauterbur, who received a Nobel Prize for his outstanding efforts towards magnetic resonance imaging is also an alumnus of the University of Pittsburgh amongst other achievers such as Philip Hench and Wangari Maathai, the founder of the Green Belt Movement.

Student Diversity and Visiting Companies

The university is open to students from state and abroad. Currently, the university caters to the academic demand of more than 24,000. The university also promotes rich cultural diversity on its campus by promoting international admissions every year. The University has students from a wide range of backgrounds, including race, national origin, religion, beliefs, age, socioeconomic level, gender, sexual orientation, and handicap status. University's vibrant and diverse campus offers several opportunities for students to engage with their peers. The enrolled student population at the University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is 65% White, 9.84% Asian, 5.19% Hispanic or Latino, 4.96% Black or African American, 3.93% Two or More Races, 0.0651% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0372% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. Amazon, UPMC, Google, PNC and other corporations recruit graduates from the University of Pittsburgh.