Founded in 1787, the same year our country's constitution was signed, the University of Pittsburgh has grown from one classroom to five campuses and nearly 250,000 alumni. The Pittsburgh campus is a potpourri of architectural style, reflecting its past and representative of its future. From the replica of the original log cabin college to the environmentally friendly "green" Sennott Square, you will see that Pitt pride is an interesting mix that is deeply rooted in its history. These and 90 other buildings are all on 132 acres of grounds for which the University has recently won various landscaping awards. You can take a tour right here.

As you approach from afar, your first sight of campus will be the towering, 42-story Cathedral of Learning, the heart of the University and one of the tallest educational structures in the world. Don't leave without visiting the Cathedral's famous Nationality Rooms which reflect the diverse ethnic heritage and history of the city's neighborhoods.

Residence Life

The campus is comprised of more than 26,000 students from across the country and around the world, making it one of the area's most diverse communities. More than 6,000 undergraduate students live on campus with about 94% of all freshmen living in residence halls. Rest assured, you will be among friends sharing similar experiences from the first day of your college career. If you would like to live among students that share an interest in business, the University Honors College, international studies, engineering or nursing, you may want to consider residing in one our corresponding living learning communities (PDF).

Lost your student identification card? Have a question about your meal plan? Just stop by Panther Central, located in the lobby of the Towers residence halls, in the center of campus. Panther Central is your go-to place for all the essentials of daily living, from transportation to housing to finding a good meal. Whether you have a question about a contract, you need to find a bus home, or you are locked out of your room at 3 a.m., Panther Central can help.

Recreational Facilities

You will never need to go far to exercise on a bike, treadmill or to use the weight machines. At seven recreational facilities throughout campus, you can find gyms and weight machines. An Olympic pool complete with diving platforms is in Trees Hall and a lap pool in Bellefield Hall.

The Peterson Events Center, commonly referred to as "the Pete," is home to the state-of-the-art Baierl Recreation Center, the only fitness center that limits access to students only. The Pete also houses a 12,500-seat arena where the Panthers basketball teams play and has served as a venue for internationally renowned speakers, as well as performers such as Bob Dylan, Kid Rock and Kanye West.

Need to burn off some energy with your friends? Check out our intramural and recreational sports site to see all the facilities and sporting events that are at your disposal. And imagine.…you can enjoy Chinese food for lunch on the Schenley Plaza lawn and go rock climbing after class…and you don't have to leave campus to find the rocks--a state of the art rock climbing wall is right here in Trees Hall.

City Links

Do you want to be able to see a Broadway performance such as Rent, Spamalot or Les Mis and also be able to go skiing or whitewater rafting? Through the Pitt Arts program, sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs, we connect students directly to a wide selection of cultural events in Pittsburgh with select seats and great discounts unavailable to the public.

The Office of Student Affairs is also home to a wide variety of other services such as Student Life, Career Services, the Counseling Center, Disability Services, the Student Health Center and more.

Student Activities

With more than 400 different student organizations as diverse as fencing, equestrian sports, women's ice hockey or the Quechua club, life outside the classroom is always interesting! Can't find a club that you want? No worries. Just find eight friends with similar interests and you can establish your own specific student club with the Office of Student Activities.

Internships and volunteer opportunities are as diverse as our student organizations. Sponsored by the School of Arts and Sciences, the Office of Experiential Learning is your headquarters for hands-on learning possibilities outside of the classroom. Of course, the city is the perfect source for all of these experiences-and it's no wonder why we like to say that the city is our campus.

UPMC

Oakland is very well known as the medical hub of the city of Pittsburgh. Seven teaching hospitals include the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), one of the leading organ transplant centers in the world. As a result, students can find countless opportunities for research and volunteer work in the medical field. Be sure to look into these opportunities via the Office of Experiential Learning.

Regional Campuses

Do you have friends attending one of Pitt's four other campuses? No problem. They are only a short road trip from Oakland; Greensburg is the closest with a 45-minute drive and Bradford the farthest, about three hours away.