Living Costs

Compared to larger U.S. Metropolitan areas, Pittsburgh is an affordable city. In fact, it has been consistently recognized through various livability rankings as one of the highest in the U.S. Do not just take our word for it. See the Pittsburgh's Post-Gazette's most recent article about it.

Although the J-1 visa requirements require proof of a minimum of $6,001 for one academic semester and $13,502 for two academic semesters in Pittsburgh, do not be fooled by these numbers, as they are often not sufficient. The estimated costs below are much closer to the reality.

Estimated Costs for the Academic Year 2016-17 at Pitt (Pittsburgh)

EXPENSE	EXCHANGE STUDENT	GUEST STUDENT
TUITION	Paid to Home Institution	See OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENT Tuition.
FEES*	Paid to Home Institution	See Mandatory Fees.
ROOM & BOARD	$11,582	$11,582
BOOKS & SUPPLIES	$680	$680
TRANSPORTATION	$678	$678
PERSONAL EXPENSES	$1,856	$1,856
MEDICAL INSURANCE	$1,852	$1,852
ESTIMATED TOTAL REQUIRED	$16,648	$16,648 + Tuition + Fees

*Select courses may require exchange and guest students to pay additional fees for the use of special equipment, such as the physical education courses and scientific laboratory courses. For a full list of the courses with these fees, see the University Registrar's website for "Special Course Related Fees."

These costs are listed for two academic semesters. For costs for 1 semester, divide by two. Actual living expenses vary according to lifestyle and living arrangements.

Pitt does not offer any scholarships to incoming exchange or guest students.

Banking

Although most establishments in Pittsburgh accept major credit cards as a form of payment, select restaurants or smaller businesses may only accept cash. Additionally, cash is often the preferred mode of tender when paying gratuity or "tips." As such, incoming students may want to open a bank account at one of the local banks here in Pittsburgh. For convenience, students should note that the William Pitt Union located on Pitt's Pittsburgh campus has ATM machines with Citizens Bank and PNC Bank. Students who choose to bank with PNC Bank will have the ability to link the Panther Card to the PNC Bank Account and use it as an ATM card.

PittPay

Pitt only issues electronic bills, so therefore all payments to Pitt are made through an online platform known as PittPay. Through PittPay, incoming students may assign "Authorized Payers," such as a parent or guardian. See PittPay's website for more details as well as a user guide and instructions on how to make international payments.

Financial Resources

Offered through the Student Payment Center, there are financial literacy resources provided to all Pitt students. These include tools on creating a budget, understanding credit reports and protecting your information. For details, go to the Finanicial Literarcy Resources page.