That is what I am going to do here with University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, a public campus in Pennsylvania. I am not going to tell you whether it is the right school for your child, because I cannot know that. But I can show you, using the data that the federal government itself collects from this institution, what kind of place it is, how it admits students, how much it costs, and what happens to the students who enroll there. With that, you can decide whether it is worth investigating further.
What Kind of School It Is and Where It Is Located
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown is a public four-year institution. The federal system that classifies colleges in this country describes it as a small, highly residential bachelor’s college with diverse fields of study: at least half of its undergraduate students live in housing owned, controlled, or affiliated with the institution, and at least 80 out of every 100 attend full time. It also places the school in its selective-admission group.
It is in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in Cambria County, within the city’s metropolitan area. Its census code places it in a suburb: within the urbanized area but outside the principal urban center. If your child were considering living at home and commuting to campus, you cannot settle that question by looking at a map. Drive the route yourself on a weekday, at the time your child would have class. The actual travel time is almost never what the app promises.
The highest level this institution reports offering is a bachelor’s degree. That is an institutional fact, not a guarantee that the exact major your child is interested in is offered here or that it necessarily leads to that degree. And because it is public, there is something you need to ask from the first day: how much they charge a Pennsylvania resident, how much they charge someone from out of state, and which of those two figures they are quoting to you. Without that distinction, any price comparison you make is incomplete.
One more thing, and it is simple to state: University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown has none of three specific designations that exist in the federal system—it is not a historically Black college or university, it is not a tribal college or university, and it is not a land-grant institution. That says nothing about which communities it serves today or how your child would feel there. Ask about that directly: what cultural centers exist, what student organizations there are, and, better yet, talk with someone who already studies there.
A Small Community, and Few Latinos Within It
Let’s start with a number that probably matters to you right away: among this school’s undergraduates, 4 out of every 100 students identified as Hispanic or Latino, according to the fall 2023 report. That is a small number. Compared with 519 similar public four-year schools with selective admission, it falls in the bottom quarter: three out of four of those schools reported a higher proportion.
I want to be direct with you here, because it is easy to read this information in two mistaken ways. Having few Latino students does not make the school bad, and having many would not make it good. It is simply a count of who is enrolled. But if your child will be one of the few, that does matter to their daily experience, and it warrants asking: What student group exists? Is there someone in the office who speaks Spanish? How does a Latino student feel there today? The number is for the entire school; your child’s specific major may feel different.
Other features of this community: there are almost no adult students—only 3 out of every 100 are between 25 and 64 years old. There are more men than women: out of every 100 students, 44 are women. And the vast majority of entering students, 86 out of every 100, were from Pennsylvania when they applied. Above all, this is a school of local, young students, with few people in their twenties or thirties returning to the classroom.
As for size: 1,940 students were enrolled in the official fall count, all of them undergraduates—there is no graduate enrollment at this school. That makes it medium-sized, although on the smaller side compared with its peers: among 519 similar schools, at least seven out of ten have more students. Being small does not guarantee more attention for your child, just as being large does not guarantee more options. Ask about that by program, not based on the school’s total size.
How the Year Is Organized and How Broad Its Offerings Are
The academic calendar is organized into semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. The school accepts credit for AP exams, but it did not indicate that it awards credit for life experience. It also reports accepting credit for military training, and it enrolls high school students in college courses for credit through a formal program.
Here is something that can spare you an expensive surprise: saying that they accept AP does not mean they will award credit for every exam your child takes. It does not say what scores they require, how many credits they award, or whether those credits apply to the specific major your child wants. Ask for the equivalency evaluation in writing before enrolling, and do not budget for the savings until you have it in hand.
As for what graduates study: in the latest year reported, the school awarded 402 bachelor’s degrees across 18 distinct families of fields of study. The largest family was engineering, accounting for 26 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year—a significant share, but not a monopoly. Compared with 514 similar schools, it falls in the quarter that awards the fewest degrees per year. Eighteen active families do not necessarily mean eighteen complete majors or guarantee that the exact program your child wants has a strong presence there: verify the specific program, not just the broad category.
The ratio of students to instructional staff, both measured in full-time equivalents, is 14 to 1. That is a low ratio compared with similar schools—it falls below the group’s midpoint. But be careful: this aggregate figure does not tell you the actual size of a first-year class. IPEDS does not publish that metric, and the file also does not explain how the institution calculated the ratio.
Academic Paths and Opportunities the School Reports
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown reports offering study abroad, cocurricular undergraduate research, noncredit developmental education, and several pathways related to teacher preparation: certification below the postsecondary level, preparation in certain specialty areas, and state approval for initial teacher certification. These are structures the institution says it makes available; they do not indicate capacity, cost, or whether they apply to your child’s specific major. If any of this interests your child, it is something to ask the academic office about directly.
Getting In: What They Require and How Easy It Is to Receive a Yes
Let’s turn to what probably causes you the most anxiety: How difficult is it to get in?
The short answer is that this school does not have open admission—it reviews specific parts of an application before deciding—but it accepts almost everyone who applies. Of 3,246 first-time applicants, it offered admission to 3,113. That is 96 out of every 100. Compared with 519 similar selective public schools, it is among those that accept the most applicants: at least nine out of ten schools in that group accepted an equal or smaller percentage.
Of the nine admission considerations tracked by the federal system—not counting standardized tests or legacy status—this school marked three as required: the high school record, the high school GPA, and the English proficiency exam when applicable. Other components are not required but are considered if you submit them: class rank, the college-preparatory course plan, the personal essay, letters of recommendation, and work experience. The published application fee is $0.
Let me be clear about something that families often discover late and that can cost a great deal of time: if your child studied outside the United States or attended high school in Spanish, ask now whether the English proficiency exam applies and what would exempt them from it. This university marks it as required when applicable.
The SAT and ACT are optional here: if applicants submit them, the school considers them; if they do not, the application proceeds just the same. Of the first-time students who enrolled, half submitted SAT scores—a high proportion compared with similar schools. Among those who did submit scores, the middle half scored between 520 and 625 in reading and writing, and between 520 and 630 in mathematics. Keep in mind that these ranges are for students who had already enrolled, not for everyone who applied, and they do not confirm that the score was decisive in any admission decision.
Now, there is something I want you to see very clearly because it changes the conversation in your home: being easy to get into does not mean it is easy to stay, nor does it mean it is inexpensive. Of every 100 students admitted, only 15 end up enrolling here that fall. That is a low rate compared with similar schools—at least seven out of ten schools in that group retain a larger proportion of admitted students. That is not a mark against the school: the federal record does not explain why each family made its decision. What I can tell you is this: receiving an admission letter is not the same as deciding to attend. Wait for your financial aid letter with the net price—what the year will actually cost you—before crossing this school off or confirming it on your list.
Regarding transfers: among the cohort that entered in 2017 seeking bachelor’s degrees, 30 out of every 100 transferred to another school without finishing here. That is a high proportion compared with similar schools. Separately, in fall 2023, 95 transfer students arrived from other institutions—a modest incoming group. Here is something almost no family knows, and it matters a great deal when you compare graduation rates later: a student who transfers is not counted as a graduate of this school, even if they complete their degree at another university. The report counts the transfer, not whether that person ultimately did well or poorly.
The Price: What the Brochure Says and What Your Family May Actually Pay
At University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, among 46 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or in-district rate, and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $10,031. Among 70 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $17,645; among 113 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $23,540. For dependent students, the band combines their parents’ income with their own.
There is a difference of $13,509 between the average for the lowest-income band (46 students) and the average for the highest-income band (113 students). These are group averages, not a prediction of your family’s price. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship, the average was $17,909.
$10,031 was the average net price for families in the lowest-income band in academic year 2022-23. That does not mean it is what your family will pay. It helps you determine whether it is worth requesting the financial aid letter.
Because the price varies so much from one income band to another, identifying yours correctly is the first step. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The financial aid letter sent to you is what matters.
How It Is Paid For: Grants, Loans, and What That Means in Real Life
At this school, receiving some type of grant or other aid that does not need to be repaid is the norm, not the exception: 98 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received it. Among those who received it, the annual average was $10,172. The Pell Grant—federal aid specifically for low-income families—reached 29 out of every 100 students. That is a gap worth noting: aid in general is widespread, but aid specifically tied to low family income reaches a smaller share.
Do not read a high number as a personal promise. It is what happened to other students in a specific year. Ask in writing which applications must be completed, what the deadlines are, and what happens to the grant or scholarship if your child’s grades fall.
And now the debt portion, stated plainly: 61 out of every 100 undergraduate students at this school received a federal student loan in the reported year. That is a high proportion compared with similar schools—among the highest, in fact. Among those who borrowed, each took out an average of $6,151 that year. If your child borrowed a similar amount in each of the plan’s four years, the total would be around $24,604, not counting interest.
That figure is determined before the first signature, not at the end. And this average is for federal loans in the student’s name during a single year: it does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes end up signing for, bank debt, or credit cards. Nor is it the total debt someone carries upon graduation—that would require adding together all four years, and that figure is not in this report.
The institution also reports an installment tuition payment plan and participation in a Promise program, two mechanisms worth asking about to learn how they would work in your child’s specific situation.
Living There: Housing, Food, Sports, and Support
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown does have institution-controlled housing, and it reported that not all first-time, full-time students are required to live there—which does not rule out the possibility that a specific program might require it. It also offers meal plans, although the number of meals per week varies depending on the plan you choose. Its reported maximum housing capacity is 1,831 students. Having rooms does not guarantee an available bed for your child: ask in writing for this year’s rate, the application deadline, and whether housing is guaranteed or there is a waiting list.
Regarding ROTC, the school indicated that the opportunity is available, and the only branch confirmed in writing is the Army. The Navy and Air Force are not marked, which does not mean they are impossible options, only that you need to ask directly. It is also unclear whether the program takes place on this campus or another one.
It does compete in intercollegiate athletics and is affiliated with the NCAA, with reported membership in basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. If sports are part of your child’s plan, write directly to the coach: ask whether there is a place on the team, which division they compete in, and whether that specific sport offers athletic scholarships.
Regarding distance education: the school reports offering it at the undergraduate level, but in the fall count, 0 out of every 100 students took their entire course load remotely—one of the lowest rates among similar schools. And in its most recent report, it indicated that it does not offer a complete program in which all required courses can be taken remotely. If this is relevant to your family, confirm it in writing for the exact major your child is interested in.
Finally, the institution reports combined academic and career counseling, employment services for both current students and those who have completed their programs, participation in the Yellow Ribbon program for veterans, a recognized student veterans’ organization, and a published webpage for disability services. The fact that these services are reported confirms that they exist as declared resources; it does not measure their quality or effectiveness in your child’s particular case.
They Stay, They Leave, They Graduate: The Numbers That Truly Matter in the End
Here we come to the question that probably matters most to you after money: If your child enrolls, will they stay? Will they graduate?
Of the cohort that entered in fall 2022 seeking bachelor’s degrees full time, 76 out of every 100 met the official retention criterion: they were still enrolled here or had already completed their degree one year later. That figure is slightly above the midpoint compared with similar schools, neither among the best nor among the worst. There are two things this number does not tell you: it does not separate those who are still studying from those who have already graduated, and not returning to this school is not the same as leaving college—a student may have transferred to another university and continued there.
Now for graduation, with all the honesty it deserves: of the first-time, full-time students who entered in 2017, 54 out of every 100 had earned a degree from this school six years later. At four years—the timeframe most families budget for—the figure falls to 38 out of every 100, sixteen points lower. Compared with similar schools, it is at or above the group’s midpoint.
I want you to remember this: at six years, it is practically an even split. The report counts outcomes, not the reasons behind each individual story. Before deciding, ask directly what concrete support is available to help a student finish on time and how long the specific major your child wants to pursue usually takes. Those sixteen points between year four and year six almost always mean an additional year of tuition, rent, and expenses that were not in the original budget.
There is a third view, at eight years, using a different cohort that includes both first-time students and students with prior experience, attending full time and part time: 50 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school by August 2023. Among those who received a Pell Grant, the figure was 46 out of every 100, six points below those who did not receive one. Compared with similar schools, it falls below the group’s midpoint.
This eight-year measure is a snapshot at a specific point in time, not a bill or a measure of how long each person studied or how much it cost them. Before signing any commitment, ask in writing how long it takes to complete the program your child is interested in, how required courses are scheduled, and how the total cost changes if the path takes longer.
What This Article Cannot Tell You
Nothing you have read here addresses what happens after graduation: how much graduates earn, whether they find work in their field, or how much debt they carry when they leave. That information is not authorized by the sources supporting this article, and I am not going to invent or imply it.
How to Combine This With What You Already Know About Your Family
You now understand in considerable depth one of the pieces you need to decide: what University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown is, how it admits students, how much it costs across its different layers, and what happens to the students who enroll there. It is a real piece of the picture, built from official data, not marketing brochures.
But it is only one piece. You still need to combine it with what your child wants to study and what they have built so far.
If you live in Pennsylvania, the price conversation starts differently than if you come from out of state. If your child urgently needs a clear four-year plan, this school requires you to ask directly about support for graduating on time. If your child is still developing their English proficiency, there is a specific question to ask today about the proficiency exam.
I cannot give you any of those answers. You have them, or your child will develop them with your support. What I can tell you is that you no longer enter that conversation empty-handed.
Note about sources: The information in this article comes from official reports that University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown submits to the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), corresponding primarily to the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles, as indicated for each figure. Best College Aid does not represent University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown or the U.S. government; this article organizes and explains public data to help you understand it.