Many Pitt Public Health doctoral students and some master’s students receive some type of financial aid in the form of student loans, full or partial scholarships, fellowships, student hourly jobs, or assistantships. While funding is not guaranteed for every student, Pitt Public Health provided more than $5 million in financial aid last year. Check the school-level tuition and financial aid overview to review options for financing your degree, then contact your department for more information.
Assistance for HPM Students
All forms of financial assistance available in the department are based on demonstrated merit and prior academic performance, as we do not provide needs-based financial assistance. Most of our students receive some financial support through federally-sponsored or commercial student loans. Applicants seeking such need-based support should contact the University’s Office of Financial Aid for information about the FAFSA application process.
The department has limited, but increasing, resources for financial assistance in the form of HPM donor-designated scholarships and some other discretionary sources. Partial scholarships may be made available for applicants with strong records of previous academic performance, demonstrated leadership and community service. However, it is rare that we are able to provide more than 50% tuition support. Students who are interested in financial assistance are highly encouraged to maintain communications with the school and schedule a campus visit.
Graduate Student Research appointments for PhD students may also be available on a limited basis depending on the terms and level of funding provided by an externally-funded grant or contract. Although doctoral students typically are given priority consideration for these appointments, they may be offered to MS degree students with the requisite research skills, knowledge and commitment. The availability of GSR appointments is less predictable than other sources of financial assistance since they depend on external sources and needs specific to the grant or contract.
International students are normally not provided departmental forms of financial assistance, since by University policy they must document the capacity to fund their educational program for its expected duration. However, under exceptional circumstances, high-performing international students may receive merit-based scholarships. International students who are pursuing doctoral studies may qualify for GSR appointments or some forms of student employment.
Applicants to the PhD program in Health Services Research and Policy should contact Jessica Dornin to inquire about the availability of financial assistance for doctoral students.
Small grants and tuition support awards may be available at the school-level to supplement other sources of financial assistance. These opportunities will be communicated by the office of student affairs as they become available.
Financial Offers to students pursuing the MHA or MPH are made on a case-by-case basis throughout the admission cycle. Applicants with questions about their competitiveness and the availability of financial assistance should contact the Vice Chair for Education Kevin Broom after receiving an offer of admission. Competitive applicants who are seeking merit-based financial assistance are strongly encouraged to maintain communications with us and to make a campus visit. Investing your time and energy to meet us, learn about our programs, see the campus, and experience the city of Pittsburgh is a clear signal of your true level of interest in attending Pitt.
Coverdell Fellows Program
Pitt Public Health invites Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) to apply for the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, which provides financial support towards a Master of Public Health (MPH) or Master of Science (MS) degree as well as experience working with local underserved communities.
Coverdell Fellows receive a 40 percent tuition & fees scholarship for up to four academic terms of study at Pitt Public Health. If you're interested in pursuing an MPH or MS degree, simply check the RPCV box on your SOPHAS application!