University of Pittsburgh

THE UNIVERSITY OF Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is an independent, state—related, doctoral/research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1787, the University of Pittsburgh is a renowned leader in academic fields as diverse as philosophy and medicine and is well known for its pioneering work in the development of the first polio vaccine, among other achievements.

Pitt is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt evolved into the Western University of Pennsylvania with an alteration to its charter in 1819. For most of its history, Pitt was a private institution, until it became part of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education in 1966. Pitt has grown ...