University of Pittsburgh at Bradford: A Comprehensive Overview

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (Pitt-Bradford), a comprehensive four-year undergraduate college within the University of Pittsburgh system, offers a personalized educational experience nestled in the scenic Allegheny Mountains of northwestern Pennsylvania. Founded in 1963, Pitt-Bradford combines the resources of a world-renowned university with the close-knit community feel of a small, rural campus. This overview explores various facets of Pitt-Bradford, including its academic offerings, campus life, student resources, and unique location.

A "Hidden Jewel" in a Rural Setting

Often described as a "hidden jewel," Pitt-Bradford is situated between the Allegany National Forest in Pennsylvania and Allegany State Park in New York. The 491-acre campus provides a beautiful and friendly environment with a strong emphasis on teaching. The surrounding region offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, biking, skiing, four-wheeling, and boating. The university's location is on Route 219, just 10 miles south of Interstate 86, placing it within driving distance of major population centers like Pittsburgh (165 miles), Buffalo (80 miles), and Toronto, Canada (165 miles).

Academic Excellence and Diverse Programs

Pitt-Bradford offers more than 40 majors and more than 50 minors and pre-professional programs in a wide assortment of disciplines. Students can pursue Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degrees are also available.

Specific areas of study include:

Accounting
Biology
Business Management
Computer Information Systems and Technology
Criminal Justice
Early Level Education PreK-4
Emergency Medicine
Energy Engineering Technology
Exercise Science
Forensic Science
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Nursing
Psychology

Pitt-Bradford faculty leverage the expansive resources and research opportunities available through the University of Pittsburgh system while maintaining close, one-on-one contact with their students in a secure, personalized environment. Students have opportunities to work side by side with their professors to conduct research, with many presenting their findings at the Annual Honors Day each spring. The university embraces diversity and is committed to increasing its global studies offerings, actively encouraging study abroad opportunities for its students in more than 75 countries.

Rankings and Recognition

In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford is ranked No. #17 in Regional Colleges North. It's also ranked No. #7 in Best Colleges for Veterans.

Personalized Environment and Faculty Interaction

Pitt-Bradford is a regional campus of the University of Pittsburgh where students are part of a welcoming, friendly, and close-knit campus community. Students receive more personal attention, more face time, and more connections in small classes. The student-faculty ratio at University of Pittsburgh at Bradford is 12:1. Professors are dedicated to teaching and go beyond mere instruction.

Campus Life and Student Engagement

Pitt-Bradford is primarily a residential campus, fostering a strong sense of community. Students are encouraged to join clubs and organizations, which are formed by students and approved by the Student Government Association (SGA). With more than 50 campus clubs and organizations, students have ample opportunities to pursue their interests. The Student Activities Council of the Student Government Association provides a variety of programs, including lectures, comedy shows, dances, concerts, trips, and special events like Alumni and Family Weekend, Sibs and Kids Day, and Winter Week.

Housing

Pitt-Bradford has established a distinctive approach to campus living through its apartment-style housing facilities. Seventy-six townhouse apartments, thirty-nine garden apartments, and twenty-seven suite-style apartments provide accommodations for two to six students each and are complete with kitchenettes and living rooms. All freshmen and sophomores who do not live in their own homes or with immediate relatives in the Bradford area are required to live on campus. Juniors, seniors, and students 21 years of age or older may live off campus.

Dining

All freshmen living on campus are required to purchase the 260-meal per-term board plan; a 195-meal option and a 145-meal option are available for upperclassmen. All meal plans may be purchased with Flex dollars that can be used for additional food items only at various locations on campus.

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Activities and Recreation

Life at Pitt-Bradford is always entertaining, and students create their own fun in the rural setting. Students enjoy activities such as bowling and paintball, and pickup games of football, sand volleyball, soccer, and basketball are common. The woods and water surrounding the campus offer recreational opportunities.

Athletics and Recreation

Pitt-Bradford offers 13 NCAA Division III varsity sports and many club-level and intramural sports and recreational programs. The university is a Division III member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC). A diversified program of seven intercollegiate sports for men and six intercollegiate sports for women is maintained.

Men's Sports: Baseball, basketball, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, and wrestling.
Women's Sports: Basketball, bowling, soccer, softball, swimming, and volleyball.

Intercollegiate and recreational sports are an integral part of campus life. The intercollegiate athletic program is consistent with the established University mission dedicated to the education of undergraduate students prepared to deal effectively with and contribute to a changing society. A balance between academic achievement and athletic accomplishment is emphasized. The primary goal of the intramural and recreational sports program is to provide students of various ability levels with opportunities for fun and leisure through recreational competition.

Campus Facilities

Pitt-Bradford boasts a range of modern facilities designed to support academic, athletic, and student life:

Blaisdell Hall: Houses the Division of Communication and the Arts, featuring classrooms, art studios, music practice rooms, a broadcast studio, a rehearsal facility, faculty offices, and the Bromeley Family Theater.
Fisher Hall: Contains classrooms, laboratories, and faculty offices for the science programs, including biology, chemistry, and environmental science, and two computer-aided learning centers (CALCs) with 24-hour access.
Frame-Westerberg Commons: The student union, featuring the KOA Dining hall and Commons Café, a game room, the Panther Shop, the campus post office, meeting and conference rooms, student lounges, and campus radio station WDRQ.
George B. Duke Engineering and Technologies Building: Opened in January 2023, housing engineering technology majors, computer information systems and technology, energy science and technology, and information systems, with state-of-the-art engineering and computer labs.
T. Edward and Tullah Hanley Library: Holds more than 97,000 volumes with access to more than 5 million additional volumes from other University of Pittsburgh libraries, small-group study areas, an AV listening/viewing room, an art gallery, a wellness room, and a Starbucks Café. It also houses the Academic Success Center.
Sport and Fitness Center: Features a 1,200-seat performance arena, a fully equipped Fitness Center, an Exercise Arts Studio, the Tom L. McDowell Fieldhouse, and a six-lane NCAA regulation-length swimming pool.
Swarts Hall: Contains classrooms and faculty offices for several programs, including nursing, business management, criminal justice, economics, education, history/political science, nursing, and psychology, with two computer labs available for students.

All Pitt-Bradford students have access to six computer areas, providing access to more than 130 high-powered Windows-based computers and several Apple machines.

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Student Resources and Support Services

Pitt-Bradford is committed to providing comprehensive support services to its students:

Academic Advising Center: Offers college placement exam notification and testing, pre-registers new students, advises undeclared and Liberal Studies majors, and assists with change of major and graduation planning.
Academic Coaching and Tutoring Center: Provides free peer-led tutoring for a wide variety of subjects.
Math Center: Offers free math tutoring for all students enrolled in a math course.
TRIO Student Support Services (SSS): Assists students who have a documented disability, are first-generation, and/or meet specific low-income requirements.
Writing Center: Has experienced faculty consultants available to assist student writers of all levels and abilities at any stage of the writing process.
Career Services: Helps students navigate the intersection of academic interests, personal strengths, and future aspirations, providing individualized career coaching, skill-building resources, employer connections, and experiential opportunities.
Counseling Services: Available to students who have personal concerns or problems, providing individual and group counseling and crisis intervention.
Equity and Accessibility: Provides equal opportunities in higher education and determines reasonable accommodations and services for students with disabilities.
Health Services: Provides health services and programs for Pitt-Bradford students, including primary assessment and treatment of health problems and injuries, health education, and referrals.
Inclusion and Belonging: Aims to create a campus culture that prioritizes access, promotes equity, and nurtures student personal growth.
International Student Services: Provides support and programs for international students to integrate with the campus community and thrive socially and academically.

Cost and Financial Aid

The school's in-state tuition and fees are $15,006; out-of-state tuition and fees are $26,998. Eighty-two percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net price for federal loan recipients is $17,215. The average need-based aid package is $21,375.

Outcomes

The four-year graduation rate is 40%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $54,240.

Accreditation

The University of Pittsburgh is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

A Pitt-Forged Education: Bradford Inspired

Pitt-Bradford offers a Pitt-forged education in a personalized environment. With dedicated professors, in-demand academic programs, and a beautiful location, Pitt-Bradford provides students with countless opportunities to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom. Its graduates become doctors and nurses, educators, and law enforcement officers.

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