Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the second-largest city in the state after Philadelphia, with a metropolitan population of about 2 million. It is not a massive city by any American standards, but it has become known as the “Steel City” during its development of steel-related businesses. It’s also called the “City of Bridges” as it has 446 bridges and is located at the confluence of three rivers.
Nowadays, many technology companies dominate Pittsburgh’s life, from Google to Apple to Facebook and Microsoft. The area is rich in universities and colleges, and in 2015, the city was voted among the “11 most livable cities in the world” by Metropolis magazine. The best-known medical school in the area is the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, ranked highly in the U.S. for research and applied education.
In addition to it, there are a large number of universities in Pittsburgh that cover fields like nursing, occupational healthcare, etc. Below, we have ranked the best medical schools in Pittsburgh.
Top Medical Schools in Pittsburgh
1. University of Pittsburgh
Along with Carnegie Mellon University and Carlow University, the University of Pittsburgh is part of the city’s traditional cultural center in the Oakland neighborhood. This center forms a hub of student life, research, and study facilities. The institution, established in 1787, has one of the most extensive research programs in the U.S. Within it, the School of Medicine was founded as the Western Pennsylvania Medical College in 1886.
Its mission is to improve people’s health and well-being through medical research, innovative educational programs in medicine and biomedical science, and leadership in academic medicine. At this medical school in Pittsburgh, you can study for an M.D. degree, multiple Ph.D. opportunities, and master’s degrees. There is also a host of training programs complementary to the medical professions. The M.D. program focuses on what they call person-to-person medicine, i.e., putting the patient first and considering them as human beings above all else.
To apply for admission, you should check the starting dates on the website and the associated calendar of when applications and supporting documents must be in. International students have the same academic requirements as U.S. citizens, which include one year of higher education within the country or Canada, prerequisite courses, and fluency in English.
For the 2024/25 academic year, the tuition cost for a Pennsylvania resident is about $31,032 to $64,600 per year, while a non-resident student will have to pay approximately $50,702 to $68,432 per year. The university also operates a financial aid office that supports all students, regardless of citizenship and residence, so it is worth consulting this to get an idea of the options available.
2. Duquesne University
Duquesne University is one of the other big universities in Pittsburgh. Its School of Pharmacy was founded in 1925. It’s one of the top pharmacy schools in the United States, ranked highly based on its academic programs, hands-on training, and nationally recognized research and leadership. In 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked the School of Pharmacy fifth among the private schools of pharmacy in the U.S., and a survey of graduates indicates that 97% feel prepared and confident about entering the workforce.
At this school, you can customize your education with different focus points, from geriatrics to pharmacy management to pharmaceutical research. You will also benefit from a severe connection with the community and many student organizations, with events allowing you to enhance your skills in the real world.
Costs for a D.O. degree are approximately $30,685 per semester for tuition only, and there is no difference if you are a Pennsylvania state resident, as this medical school in Pittsburgh is privately funded. However, various grants and scholarships are available to apply for your studies at Duquesne.
Read Also: 10 Steps to Become a Doctor in the United States
3. Chatham University
The highly competitive Chatham University’s School of Health Sciences focuses on medical, psychology, and nursing degrees to prepare students for various medical professions. Students here learn by going through actual medical cases, and there is a strong emphasis on inter-professional education. The latter means that you will work and study with students in nursing, psychology, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, and physical therapy, ultimately sharing your knowledge and learning from each other’s practical experience.
They pride themselves on having 100% employment rates for alums within six months of graduation from any program. Only less than 30% of applicants gain admission to the school’s programs, with an annual intake of about 400 students. It makes the learning environment very close-knit, and students have extensive access to the faculty members, primarily practicing clinicians.
You can study a wide range of master’s degree programs here, such as an MA in Psychology or an MSc in Nursing, and you can also attend the school to pursue further education by obtaining a Ph.D. The fields of study for the Ph.D. diploma are nursing practice, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and counseling psychology.
The School of Health Sciences is located at Chatham Eastside and is part of the Shadyside Campus of Chatham University. This area is close to a busy retail district home to Google’s Pittsburgh office. Finally, this medical school is also well known for its international collaborations, which sometimes include international travel to provide services in healthcare settings, which is an interesting plus for a medical student.
The cost of attending SHS depends on the program and is calculated per credit. For example, the MA in Psychology takes 36 credits at $1,160 each, i.e., $41,760, but you will also need to budget for some additional fees. Chatham offers financial aid, and you can find more details about each program from their website.
While Pittsburgh is more known for famous technological companies like Google or Microsoft, aspiring medical students can still find quality medical education in this place provided by the state’s best institutions. Universities such as the University of Pittsburgh, Chatham University, and Duquesne University offer various medical degrees to help students develop their skills and knowledge, shaping their future as medical professionals.
We hope this article on the best medical schools in Pittsburgh was helpful. If you are interested in studying in the United States, check out our Study in the USA Page and the Available Programs for International Students in the USA!
