By CHUCK STARESINIC

 

The annual student census released this week shows that overall undergraduate enrollment at the Pittsburgh campus grew modestly by 130 students (0.6%) to a total of 21,518.

 

The incoming class of 4,725 first-year students on the Pittsburgh campus was selected from a record-setting number of applicants, more than 74,000, but is noticeably smaller than last year’s largest-ever such class of 5,870. 

 

Despite the smaller first-year cohort for 2026, Pitt remains on track to reach the enrollment goal stated in the University’s strategic plan, of 22,000 undergrads by 2028, according to a Pitt spokesperson. “The demand for a Pitt education has never been higher. … Applications have grown 149% since 2016,” the spokesperson said. “We are on pace to meet the undergraduate enrollment target spelled out in the Plan for Pitt.”

 

Total undergraduate enrollment on all campuses rose by just 108 students this year, from 25,679 to 25,787. 

 

The regional campuses mostly held steady in their enrollment numbers. The biggest change was at Pitt-Johnstown, which declined by 22 students, or 1.2%, to 1,807. Pitt-Greensburg declined by 8 students, or 0.6 % to 1,304. Bradford added a handful of students, as did Titusville, bringing their totals to 1,098 and 60, respectively.

 

Graduate and professional enrollment declined by 272 people or 2.8%, from 9,849 to 9,577. 

 

Pitt’s enrollment data, including by individual campuses and schools, can be found on the Institutional Research and Analytics website. A few notable figures from the dataset:

• The College of General Studies increased more than 11%.

• The School of Law increased more than 6%, primarily in the JD program.

• The School of Computing and Information’s undergraduate enrollment decreased by 18%. 

• In the School of Public Health, graduate/professional enrollment decreased more than 17%.

 

In response to a question about the school’s enrollment figures, a SCI spokesperson said computer science programs nationally are feeling the effects of rapid technological change in a sector historically associated with ready access to high-paying entry-level careers. “Over hiring in the tech sector, combined with AI advances that can perform routine coding tasks, has affected entry-level tech jobs. This shift has given some prospective students pause about studying computer science.

 

“In practice, however, what is underway reflects a labor-market correction and the adoption of new AI tools that accelerate software development, particularly routine coding tasks. Computing careers that emphasize the human elements of design, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving are in high demand throughout the economy beyond the tech sector. New career opportunities are also being created in areas like AI deployment and AI governance.”

 

The spokesperson said SCI is expanding academic programs and pathways that connect computing with a wide range of disciplines, “aligning curriculum with growing demand for AI knowledge and skills” and doing so from a position of strength, with its highest-ever U.S. News & World Report undergraduate computer science ranking and a 94% placement rate for the Class of 2025.

 

Public health graduate enrollment has declined nationally in recent years. The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health estimated a 25-30% decline in enrollment across its member schools in the previous academic year, citing a number of reasons. Public health programs have faced decreased federal funding, and new caps on federal loan borrowing for master's students have made the degree harder to finance. Also, new policies preventing international students from obtaining visas have hit public health programs especially hard, as those programs have historically enrolled a high share of international students. 

 

A significant change from last year is the overall number of international students at all levels on all Pitt campuses, which is down about 12% in 2026 compared to fall 2025. Pitt currently has 2,548 international students on all campuses (7.2% of the student body), compared to 2,897 in 2025 (8.2% of the student body), which was itself a decline of about 6% from 3,085 in fall 2024 (9.1% of the student body).

 

A Pitt spokesperson noted, “A dynamic federal policy landscape has driven declines in new international student enrollment across higher education.” 

 

Those factors include a December 2025 executive order that restricted standard student-visa protections for nationals of 39 countries. This year, Homeland Security eliminated "Duration of Status" for student visas in favor of fixed admission periods of four years, adding uncertainty and paperwork burdens for incoming students. In addition to those changes, persistent visa-appointment backlogs and processing delays kept many admitted students from arriving on time to begin their studies even when they had no legal obstacle. These factors and others have contributed to a broader climate of feeling unwelcome, and a tense social and political environment has caused prospective students to consider other countries.

 

“International students are a valued part of the University of Pittsburgh, and make important contributions to education, research and campus life,” said the Pitt spokesperson. “The University is committed to fostering and welcoming a thriving international community where every international student who chooses to come here — now and in the future — receives support and an excellent education.”

 

Chuck Staresinic is interim editor for the University Times. Reach him at chuck.s@pitt.edu. 

 

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