Founded in 1787 and once located in a small cabin, the University of Pittsburgh now spreads over 132 acres and as of 2011, has a student body of more than 34,000. In addition to tours and information sessions, the school offers "Picture Yourself at Pitt" programs and specific days for admitted students. The university also releases Pitt Magazine, which is published each season and distributed to graduates and supporters of the school. Applications are considered on a rolling basis and the university offers institutional scholarships to qualified students.
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh specializes in design, culinary, media arts and fashion studies. The school had its first graduating class in 1921. If you are applying for a Bachelor degree, you must have a minimum high school GPA of 2.0, a GED or an associate degree. You can also take a combination of online and in-class courses. On-campus housing is available and study abroad programs have taken students to China, England, France and Turkey.
Duquesne is a private, Catholic school with almost 100 graduate and postgraduate programs and 100 undergraduate fields of study. As of 2011, approximately 3,500 students utilize on-campus housing. The school has its own television and radio stations as well as its own newspaper. The school's psychology clinic offers counseling services to both faculty and students. Campus walking tours are available most weekdays and selected Saturdays. Honor students are part of Duquesne University's Honor College.
Carnegie Mellon University was once a small technical school. As of 2011, the institution has an enrollment of approximately 11,000 students and offers you a 10-1 student-to-faculty ratio. The school was founded in 1900 and its mascot is the Scottish Terrier. Sports teams range from women's basketball and lacrosse to softball and skiing. Dining options include vegetarian and vegan dishes, Italian and sushi. If you are a high school student, Carnegie Mellon features pre-college programs which offer a glimpse of life as a university student.