Pittsburgh, PA · Private University
Is University of Pittsburgh Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$66,125
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$21,524
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$39,890
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$159,560
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.66x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
5.1 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
84.3%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$24,250
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$30,074
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus graduates earn $21,125 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus ranked by graduate earnings
63 graduates
157 graduates
100 graduates
70 graduates
256 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, the gap between the highest-earning major (Biomedical/Medical Engineering: $91,369) and the lowest (Health and Physical Education/Fitness: $24,916) is $66,453/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Biomedical/Medical EngineeringBest ROI | $91,369 | 2.3x |
| Chemical Engineering | $90,120 | 2.3x |
| Computer Engineering | $88,810 | 2.2x |
| Industrial Engineering | $88,619 | 2.2x |
| Computer Science | $85,906 | 2.1x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $85,235 | 2.1x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $80,951 | 2.0x |
| Applied Mathematics | $78,897 | 2.0x |
| Civil Engineering | $76,597 | 1.9x |
| Information Science/Studies | $74,870 | 1.9x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $74,010 | 1.9x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $74,000 | 1.9x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $73,298 | 1.8x |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $68,352 | 1.7x |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $67,822 | 1.7x |
| Marketing | $66,288 | 1.7x |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $65,377 | 1.6x |
| Economics | $64,862 | 1.6x |
| Mathematics | $63,511 | 1.6x |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $62,239 | 1.6x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $62,038 | 1.6x |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $59,845 | 1.5x |
| Chemistry | $58,424 | 1.5x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $53,037 | 1.3x |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $52,181 | 1.3x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $52,168 | 1.3x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $51,805 | 1.3x |
| Business/Commerce, General | $51,789 | 1.3x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $51,703 | 1.3x |
| Political Science and Government | $51,632 | 1.3x |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,768 | 1.3x |
| Biology, General | $50,041 | 1.3x |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management(1yr data) | $49,865 | 1.3x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General(1yr data) | $49,298 | 1.2x |
| Psychology, General | $47,793 | 1.2x |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $46,757 | 1.2x |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $46,599 | 1.2x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $46,207 | 1.2x |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other(1yr data) | $44,545 | 1.1x |
| Literature | $43,091 | 1.1x |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $42,279 | 1.1x |
| Anthropology | $42,219 | 1.1x |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $42,087 | 1.1x |
| Social Work | $40,913 | 1.0x |
| History | $40,201 | 1.0x |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $39,510 | 1.0x |
| Sociology | $38,977 | 1.0x |
| Urban Studies/Affairs(1yr data) | $36,099 | 0.9x |
| Social Sciences, General | $36,020 | 0.9x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $35,570 | 0.9x |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology(1yr data) | $34,279 | 0.9x |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $28,704 | 0.7x |
| Health and Physical Education/FitnessLowest(1yr data) | $24,916 | 0.6x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
How It Compares
ROI at similar schools
| School | ROI Ratio | Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | 1.66x | $66,125 | Good ROI |
| University of Connecticut | 1.72x | $73,997 | Good ROI |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 1.58x | $63,435 | Good ROI |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | 1.82x | $71,631 | Good ROI |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 2.07x | $74,479 | Strong ROI |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | 1.57x | $60,409 | Good ROI |
The Bottom Line
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus offers solid financial returns relative to its cost. Graduates earn $66,125 10 years after starting — $21,125 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 5.1 years — faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.