Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition and fees are set by the University and the official postings should be consulted for current information.

Learn more about Tuition and Billing  

Financial Aid

Pitt Public Health cannot guarantee funding to every student, but last year the school provided more than $5 million in financial aid to graduate students. Almost all Pitt Public Health doctoral students and many master’s students receive some type of financial aid, whether in the form of full or partial scholarships, fellowships, student assistantships, student employment, or student loans.

Students who receive aid generally receive it through their department, and the amount of aid available varies among the programs. Priority consideration is given to doctoral students. Departments may award graduate student research positions to international students. 

Important Information on Financial Aid for International Applicants

In general, international students are not eligible for student loans, federal traineeships, fellowships, or scholarships. International students may be eligible for selected scholarships or assistantships. (A significant number of our international doctoral students are supported by assistantships.)

Important: At the time of admission, international applicants who have not been offered financial aid are required to submit an affidavit, indicating that they have sufficient funds to cover their tuition and living expenses for the duration of the program. Visa documents are issued on the basis of these affidavits, and the expectation of self-support continues throughout the period of enrollment.

International students should always consult with the Office of International Services before applying for student employment.

Contacts for Financial Aid

Contact your GSPH Department Student Services Staff or academic advisor first with questions about student assistantships, scholarships, and hourly employment.

University of Pittsburgh Student Loans

Pitt Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
412-624-7488

Student Hourly Employment

Contact your GSPH Department Student Services Staff or your departmental academic advisor.

Contact the University’s Office of Human Resources at 412-624-7000.

Scholarships, Assistantships, Fellowships

Contact your GSPH Department Student Services Staff or academic advisor.

Key Deadlines

Loan Applications

Student loan applications are processed for GSPH students by the University’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (OAFA; 412-624-7488). See complete instructions for applying for a student loan on the University’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid page.

Student Loan Deadlines

While there is no strict deadline for application, the suggested filing dates are encouraged:

• June 1 (fall term)
• October 1 (spring term)
• February 1 (summer term)

Students are encouraged to submit loan application documents as soon as possible before the start of the term for which a loan is requested.

For information about student loans, view the University’s Office of Admission and Financial Aid’s PowerPoint presentation.

Types of Aid

Student Loans

Generally, applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Contact Office of Admissions and Financial Aid for information on loan options, availability, and to apply.

Call 412-624-7488 to check the status of your loan application.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for all students who wish to be considered for loans or Pitt Public Health aid. The University of Pittsburgh federal school code is 008815.

Federal Regulations on Student Loans: Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Institutions participating in Title IV Federal Student Aid programs must monitor satisfactory academic progress of students receiving any federal loans or other aid (e.g. scholarships).

To demonstrate satisfactory progress, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and complete at least 67% of the total credits attempted at any point. Doctoral students must complete the degree within the statute of limitations for the degree and must complete the degree with no more than 150% of the required credits. If progress is not met, students may be ineligible to receive loans or other aid. Students may appeal, in which case they will have one term to achieve the SAP standards. See Mary Derkach in the Office of Student Affairs, G009 Public Health, to submit an appeal of determination of no progress.

If you receive federal aid, you should read the entire SAP policy. In particular, FTDR registration is counted as 9 credits for the purposes of this law; retaking courses and receiving course grades of W, I, G, F, N (audit) and R all count towards the stated totals. Advanced standing credits also count toward the total number of credits taken. Also, carrying a large number of I, G, W, R, and F graded credits may potentially violate the 67% completion rule. Contact your instructor(s) about filing real grades on a term-by-term basis, where appropriate.

Emergency Loans

The University may provide loans of up to $200 for students in emergency financial need. Interested students should contact the Student Organization Resource Center (SORC) on the first floor of the William Pitt Union, 412-624-7116.

Short-term student loans of up to $500 may be available through the Pitt Public Health Office of Student Affairs for students with unexpected emergencies who have paid their tuition for the term. Students should contact assistant dean for student affairs, Mary Derkach for more information.

Grants and Scholarships

Important Note on Loan Eligibility with Regard to Grants and Scholarships

The University recalculates a student’s loan eligibility whenever additional financial aid appears in the student financial system. New aid may result in a reduction or total cancellation of loan eligibility, including an obligation to immediately repay all or part of a loan already disbursed. If you receive a scholarship, you may want to schedule a meeting with a loan counselor in the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid and ask for a recalculation of your loan eligibility.

University Aid

The University offers several scholarships throughout the year that are suitable for graduate students. These scholarships will be announced to departments and students will be invited to apply.

Pitt Alumni Association Graduate Scholarship
A one-time $5,000 scholarship awarded to graduate students who also completed their undergraduate degree at Pitt.

The George L. Carson Graduate Fellowship for Pitt Alumni
Awarded to a graduate student who was affiliated with a Pitt athletics program as an undergraduate. Applications will be available in February and are typically due May 1. Contact the Student Life and Compliance Office in the Athletics Department with questions.

Owens Fellowship
A needs-based, $6,000 per year fellowship that can be used for tuition, books, and living expenses. Copies of GRE scores or other standardized test scores may be required. Applications are available in February.  Go to my.pitt.edu, PittFund$Me, in early May for applications and information.

Provost’s Development Fund
A needs-and merit-based grant for doctoral students intended to provide financial support and professional development for women and disadvantaged students. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Applicants must also be in the final year of their doctoral program, having completed all required coursework and working on their dissertation. Contact Linda Williams-Moore at lwmoore@pitt.edu for more information.

K. Leroy Irvis Fellowships
Graduate schools receive one award each year to provide first-year support of an outstanding, full-time doctoral student who supports the University’s and school’s diversity mission. The Irvis Fellowship provides a stipend, tuition remission, and health insurance for the first year; the academic department provides the same level of support for years two and three. Nominations are made by departments.

PittFund$Me: All students seeking aid should fill out a personal profile at my.pitt.edu, PittFund$Me, to be considered for any University aid for graduate students.

Pitt Public Health Aid

Pitt Public Health awards the following partial scholarships annually, generally at the start of the fall term. Students may contact their departments and request to be nominated.

Dean’s Public Health Scholars Award
During the early spring term each department can nominate one outstanding incoming master’s student for the Dean’s Public Health Scholars Award, which provides a 50% tuition scholarship for up to two years of full-time graduate studies. Students must be registered full-time through the Graduate School of Public Health to receive the award.

In addition, two scholarship awards are reserved for direct application by newly accepted applicants for Fall 2019.  Applicants who wish to be considered for one of these awards must send a request to Mary Derkach, Office of Student Affairs, at derkach@pitt.edu. Selected applicants must plan to enroll through Pitt Public Health as full-time master’s students, and be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with verbal GRE scores in the 70th percentile or better, and quantitative scores in the 60th percentile or better. In addition, requests must be accompanied by a statement describing the applicant’s academic achievements to date as well as her/his ability to enhance or contribute to the diversity and inclusiveness of the Pitt Public Health student body.  Second-year funding is available, contingent upon a GPA of 3.3 or higher in the first year.

Campaign for the Next 5,000 Alumni
Financial support based on need, merit, and diversity. Although preference may be given to master’s students, doctoral students are also eligible.

Dean’s Endowed Doctoral Scholarship
Support for doctoral students based on need, merit, and community service.

Dr. Edgar and Lauraine Duncan Scholarship
Financial support for disadvantaged students that can be used for student fees, stipend, books, or travel expenses.

Bernard D. Goldstein Student Award in Environmental Health Disparities and in Public Health Practice
For students or postdoctoral fellows studying either the environmental causes of health disparities or the practice of public health. This award is administered in alternate years by the Center for Health Equity (even-numbered years) and the Center for Public Health Practice (odd-numbered years). Apply by November 18, 2019.

Departmental Awards

Behavioral and Community Health Sciences

Carol McAllister Award
Based on need and merit, awards can be used for books, fees, stipends, or travel expenses.

Karen S. Peterson Memorial Research Award for Women’s Health
Research or practice support for work in women’s health.

Joseph and Brigida Ricci Scholarship
Needs-based support for an outstanding student.

Myrna Silverman Scholarship
Needs-based support for an outstanding doctoral student.

Biostatistics

Biostatistics Endowed Scholarship Fund
Tuition support.

Department of Biostatistics Endowment Fund
Resource support including travel and registration for academic and professional conferences.

Epidemiology

Arlene W. Caggiula Student Award in Nutrition
Tuition support for students studying nutritional epidemiology, a nutrition-related component of chronic disease, a nutrition-related component of aging, or the evaluation of the epidemiology of a nutrition-related disorder.

Katherine Detre Scholarship
Awarded to promising accepted doctoral applicants or continuing doctoral students who demonstrate high levels of scholarship and commitment to public health. Established to supplement graduate student support in the Epidemiology Data Center.

Lewis H. Kuller Scholarship Award
Resource support that can be used to cover tuition, books, fees, research, travel expenses, or stipends.

Evelyn H. Wei Memorial Fund
Resource support for travel to attend approved scientific meetings, events, or conferences. 

Evelyn H. Wei Scholarship Award in Epidemiology
Tuition assistance for master’s or doctoral degree students based upon potential contribution to public health, with emphasis on scholarship, leadership, and service.

Health Policy and Management

The Dawn Gideon Scholarship for MHA Students
Provides scholarship assistance for students in the MHA program whose talents lean towards creative problem solving and an understanding of the value all individuals bring to the process.

Nathan Hershey Endowment in Health Administration
An annual award to a full-time student enrolled in the MHA program. Secondary criteria shall include need.

HPM Friends and Alumni Scholarship Fund
This scholarship provides tuition support to students within the Department of Health Policy Management.

Hunter Group Health Policy and Management Student Scholarship Award
This endowed fund provides tuition assistance for students in the Department of Health Policy and Management.

The Thomas and Judy Priselac Endowed Fund for Healthcare Leadership
Provides support for MHA students participating in selected professional and leadership development activities nationally, including professional association conferences, academic team competitions, professional networking, and other health management career path opportunities.

Surma Scholarship for Long-term Healthcare Administration in Policy and Aging
This endowed fund provides support to Graduate School of Public Health students who are Pennsylvania residents and have demonstrated interest in long-term healthcare administration or policies.

Human Genetics

C. C. & Clara Li Endowed Scholarship
The award is offered to the top accepted applicants in each of our four offered programs, PhD, MS, MPH and MS-GC. It can be used towards tuition support or to defray the cost of books, lab related fees, conference travel, etc.

George Qi Wang Memorial Student Assistance Fund in Pharmacogenetics
Tuition support for students pursuing research studies in pharmacogenetics; open to students in any of the Schools of the Health Sciences or Arts and Sciences.

Infectious Diseases and Microbiology

Bob Yee Student Award
Tuition support.

Other Financial Support - Resources for Research and Professional Development

Russell Rule Rycheck Award for a Promising MPH Student
A $500 award for MPH students committed to the practice of public health. Funds can be used for books, coursework, travel, or professional development. Applications are due to Mary Derkach, assistant dean for student affairs, G009 Public Health, by December 4 each year. If December 4 falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, applications are due the following Monday.

William T. Green Jr. Award in Public Health Studies - Awarded in Fall and Spring Terms
A $750 award to support research and special projects for currently enrolled Pitt Public Health students. Funds can be used for direct research costs, books, travel, or professional memberships. Applications are due to Mary Derkach, assistant dean for student affairs, G009 Public Health, by December 4 for the fall term, and by March 15 for the spring term.

Other Financial Support - Travel Awards for Conferences and International Study

Pitt Public Health Support

Office of Student Affairs

The Office of Student Affairs provides departments with $500 each year to use for student travel grants. To apply for a travel grant, please see the student services staff member in your department. Awards are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and travel must take place no later than mid-May. Receipts for reimbursement must be submitted to your department as soon as you return from your conference/meeting.

Awards can be applied only to future travel. Travel must take place during the student’s enrollment in a degree program at Pitt Public Health.  Students may request only one award per academic year. Awards will be processed as a travel expense reimbursement (TBE) by the student’s department upon submission of receipts for travel. In no case can the amount of the award exceed expenses.  Students applying for travel awards from more than one source should prepare one reimbursement form for all of the sources, since original receipts are required for all sources.

Student Government Association

Students can apply for a travel award (up to $150) from the Student Government Association. Applications are available in the Office of Student Affairs.

Global Health

The dean of Pitt Public Health sponsors a grant program for graduate students in the health sciences who want to conduct international research to address global health issues. Availability of grants can be found annually in The Week Ahead.

University Support

Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS)

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education with the intent of promoting the study of a modern, European foreign language within a cultural, scientific, or historical framework. Fellowships are awarded annually for summer and academic year study. Submit an application to Pitt Public Health, and we will then select nominees and forward them to the University Center for International Studies.

Graduate and Professional Student Government

Grants support for travel to academic and professional conferences. Applicants are eligible for one grant per fiscal year (July 1- June 30), and funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Nationality Rooms Scholarships

These scholarships reflect decades of work honoring education through cultural exchange. After the Nationality Rooms were built in Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning, committees stayed together to raise funds enabling eligible Pitt students to study abroad, therby experiencing another culture in depth. There are several different awards available.

University Center for International Study Scholarships

The Pitt Study Abroad Office offers a central listing of the range of scholarship possibilities available to help defray the cost of a study abroad program. Scholarships are managed by academic departments and schools such as the Center for Global Health or the College of General Studies.

Women’s Studies Student Research Fund

Awards of up to $1,000 to support travel expenses, secretarial costs, research materials, or other direct costs for research related to the study of women, gender, and/or sexuality.

EXTERNAL SUPPORT

The following external sources also provide travel support for conferences and international study:

Fulbright Fellowship Program

Grants for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistantships. During their program, Fulbrighters will meet, work, live with, and learn from the people of a host country, sharing daily experiences.

Fulbright Hays

Funding for students wishing to conduct their doctoral dissertations abroad.

George Mitchell Scholarship

National scholarship for students interested in pursuing one year of graduate work in an institution of higher education in Ireland or Northern Ireland.

International Education Financial Aid

Information on financial aid for U.S. and international students wishing to study abroad.

External Funding Opportunities

These organizations may have financial aid programs for public health students. Students can find listings of internship, fellowship, and post-doc opportunities in Pitt Bridges.

Student Assistantships

Graduate student assistants, graduate student researchers, teaching assistants, and teaching fellows are students who receive support in return for specified duties while gaining teaching, teaching-related, or research experience under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Whenever available, assistantships and traineeships are awarded by the departments. There are no assistantships available through the Office of Student Affairs or the Dean’s Office. Students may receive an assistantship from any department in the University, but there is no central listing of assistantships available.

Descriptions

Traineeships
A traineeship is money from a training grant allocated to students to support advanced study in a specified field. A traineeship may provide full or partial tuition and/or living expenses. Usually, there is no service requirement. Several departments have traineeships available for students in particular concentrations.

Assistantships
An assistantship provides a full or partial tuition scholarship, a stipend, and individual health insurance coverage in exchange for performance of specified duties, usually in support of a faculty member’s research project. Assistantship appointments can be full or part-time. Each department may award a limited number of student assistantships, usually to doctoral students. Students may also be awarded an assistantship by another University department. There is no central listing of University assistantships.

Teaching Assistants
A teaching assistant (TA) is a student who holds a teaching or teaching-related appointment made within the University regulations pertaining to teaching assistants. No teaching assistant shall be employed to teach post baccalaureate courses.

Teaching Fellows
A teaching fellow (TF) is the same as a teaching assistant except that the teaching fellow is more educationally advanced or experienced, typically holding the equivalent of a master’s degree. TFs should not be assigned to teach graduate courses. Exceptions may be made only in rare cases where in the individual shows clear evidence of outstanding skills in specialized areas and when the individual is directly supervised by faculty.

Eligibility
Students must be appointed through Pitt Public Health and must be enrolled at Pitt Public Health.

Effort
Full-time GSRs are expected to devote twenty hours per week to the research project they are assisting. GSRs may be required to work more hours if the research pertains to their thesis or dissertation. Time expenditure of part-time GSRs is proportional to this standard of twenty hours (i.e. half-time GSRs must devote ten hours per week to their research project, and more if the research pertains to their thesis).

TAs and GSAs have the same work obligation of twenty hours a week. However, their assignments will differ from a GSR and will not likely relate directly to their research interests.

Appointments
GSR, GSA, and TA appointments may be made annually for one to no more than three terms at a time (one academic year). Renewals are subject to satisfactory job performance and availability of funding.

Evaluation
At least once each year, the faculty supervisor must provide a written evaluation of a GSR/TA/GSA’s performance to the student and to the department. A suggested evaluation form is available from the department administrator, who should request the evaluation in the spring term. A copy of the completed evaluation should be provided to the department administrator.

Stipend
The monthly stipend amount is set by the department within a range established by the University. Monthly stipend payments for part-time GSR positions will be proportional to this standard. The University does not set a different stipend level for TA and GSA positions.

Tuition Scholarships
Full-time GSR/GSA/TAs are eligible to receive full tuition scholarships to cover up to and including 15 credits per term. Part-time positions are eligible for partial tuition scholarships in accord with their appointments, i.e., a half appointment receives a scholarship for six credits and a quarter appointment covers three credits per term.

Health Insurance
GSRs, GSAs, and TAs are provided individual coverage under the UPMC Health Plan for graduate students. Family coverage is available at an additional cost to the student.

University Policies
Learn about University policies regarding student assistantships.

Student Employment

Registered students can work in part-time student positions for a maximum of 20 hours per week in the fall and spring terms, and 37.5 hours per week in the summer term. Graduate students do not generally receive funding through the federal work-study program.

After creating a PittSource account (free of charge), students have access to postings for summer jobs and regular student employment.  Postings include positions within Pitt Public Health, at other University departments, and through off-campus employers.