New University data shows first-year student enrollment slowed compared to last year, while the number of graduate students declined.<\/p>\n
Following record-breaking first-year enrollment last year<\/a>, Pitt\u2019s first-year enrollment returned to average numbers this year, which Pitt says was an intentional choice. On the other hand, graduate student enrollment decreased by 272 students \u2014 the first decrease recorded since 2021.<\/p>\n According to data provided by a University spokesperson, last year\u2019s first-year enrollment was 5,861 students, while this year\u2019s is 4,726 students. However, this year\u2019s first-year enrollment is still higher than in years prior to 2025.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh Campus first-year undergraduate enrollment\n<\/p>\n Fall 2022 4,390 Data provided by University spokesperson\u00a0<\/p>\n A University spokesperson explained that the fall 2026 class reflects an intentional decision to enroll a smaller first-year class following an \u201cexceptionally large incoming class\u201d in fall 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n The sky-high enrollment from last fall was in line with Pitt\u2019s plan to enroll 22,000 undergraduates by 2028<\/a>. Last year, some first-year students were housed in a hotel and a fraternity complex<\/a> due to the major increase in enrollment, with many of those students frustrated<\/a> by their living situations.<\/p>\n The Pitt spokesperson said the University remains on track to reach its goal of enrolling 22,000 students by 2028, and that it is \u201cpursuing measured, sustainable growth that keeps the student experience at the center, from housing and class availability to advising and student support services.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Sofia Macias, a senior nursing major, recalled talking with her friends about students being placed in hotels, and her memories of the Hillman Library being overcrowded last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI spent the majority of my time in Hillman and even when they opened the ground floor, we had such a hard time finding places to sit,\u201d Macias said.<\/p>\n Niveta Bharath, a senior public health major, said she hasn\u2019t noticed much of a difference with less first-year enrollment this year, observing that the Hillman Library is \u201calways crowded anyway.\u201d However, she recalled her friend\u2019s experience staying in a hotel last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe said that it was very far and inconvenient for him,\u201d Bharath said. \u201cIt made no sense to over-enroll students and put them into hotels.\u201d Graduate student enrollment (not including graduate certificate\/microcredential and non-degree seeking students)<\/p>\n Fall 2022 Doctorate-research Doctorate-professional Masters Total Data sourced from Pitt\u2019s annual student censuses<\/p>\n Research doctoral enrollment has been on the decline since 2024, previously declining by 88 students from 2024 to 2025, while professional doctorate enrollment only decreased by 18 students.\u00a0<\/p>\n The University spokesperson said over the past 10 years, research doctoral enrollment has fluctuated above and below the current enrollment, adding that the causes of year-to-year fluctuation are complex and \u201crarely the result of one factor.\u201d<\/p>\n The spokesperson also said slight changes in master\u2019s enrollment are expected and that it fluctuates in response to workforce needs.<\/p>\n \u201cThe University is responding to the needs of today\u2019s master\u2019s and professional students, many of whom are working adult learners, by offering more online and hybrid programs that lead to professional advancement and specialized careers,\u201d the spokesperson said. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New University data shows first-year student enrollment slowed compared to last year, while the number of graduate students…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":315954,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[73,75,74],"class_list":["post-315953","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh-headlines","tag-pittsburgh-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/315953","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=315953"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/315953\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/315954"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=315953"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=315953"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=315953"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nFall 2023
\nFall 2024
\nFall 2025
\nFall 2026<\/p>\n
\n4,549
\n4,579
\n5,861
\n4,726<\/p>\n
While Pitt\u2019s undergraduate student body continues to grow, graduate student enrollment decreased by about 2.8%, decreasing by 272 students. Research doctoral and masters students together accounted for 248 students of the decrease.<\/p>\n
\nFall 2023
\nFall 2024
\nFall 2025
\nFall 2026<\/p>\n
\n2,695
\n2,720
\n2,833
\n2,745
\n2,619<\/p>\n
\n2,577
\n2,698
\n2,708
\n2,791
\n2,773<\/p>\n
\n3,624
\n3,502
\n3,604
\n3,943
\n3,821<\/p>\n
\n9,250
\n9,268
\n9,509
\n9,849
\n9,577<\/p>\n