Financial Aid

Many Pitt Public Health doctoral students and some master’s students receive some type of financial aid in the form of student loans, full or partial scholarships, fellowships, student hourly jobs, or assistantships. While funding is not guaranteed for every student, Pitt Public Health provided more than $5 million in financial aid last year. Check the school-level tuition and financial aid overview to review options for financing your degree, then contact your department for more information.

Coverdell Fellows Program

Pitt Public Health invites Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) to apply for the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, which provides financial support towards a Master of Public Health (MPH) or Master of Science (MS) degree as well as experience working with local underserved communities.

Coverdell Fellows receive a 35 percent tuition & fees scholarship for up to four academic terms of study at Pitt Public Health. If you're interested in pursuing an MPH or MS degree, simply check the RPCV box on your SOPHAS application!

BCHS Departmental Scholarships

Four scholarships are available to students enrolled in a degree program in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences. The department also makes awards from the BCHS Research Support Fund to provide financial assistance to students in the completion of their academic programs. The deadlines for the McAllister, Peterson, Ricci, and Silverman scholarships are October 1st and February 1st. The BCHS Research Support Award has a rolling deadline. Awards are dependent on available funding. Specific eligibility criteria for each award follows:

Carol L. McAllister Student Resource Fund: Available to  BCHS students who demonstrate need, merit, a commitment to social justice, and a dedication to improving the lives of women and children. Awards will be made to support work that is qualitative, ethnographic, community-based, and participatory.

Karen S. Peterson Memorial Research Award for Women’s Health: Awarded to BCHS students demonstrating interest in research or practice leading to improvements in women’s health. Preference will be given to MPH students.

Joseph and Brigida Ricci Award Fund: This award is designated to assist in the recruitment and retention of BCHS students.

Silverman Scholarship Fund: Designated for a currently enrolled BCHS doctoral student, having an undergraduate degree in anthropology or in another social science discipline, who demonstrates merit, need and skills in qualitative and ethnographic research design. Preference will be given to students whose proposed dissertation reflects these skills.

BCHS Research Support Fund: These funds are available for BCHS masters and doctoral students to assist with the costs of conducting research toward the MPH, DrPH, or PhD degrees. MPH students must have formed their committees and obtained IRB approval in order to be eligible. Doctoral students must have passed their Overview and have IRB approval in order to be eligible.

All BCHS students are eligible to apply for the McAllister, Peterson and Ricci scholarships. The department uses limited funds to benefit the largest number of students. Students may apply for more than one scholarship, though preference is given to students who have not received a previous award. Funds may be used for research or practice activities or as otherwise directed by the specific award.

Apply for Scholarships

Scholarship Questions?

For more information, email Paul Markgraf, BCHS academic administrator, or call 412-624-3107.

BCHS Scholarship Details

Reporting Requirements: Please refer to the individual award pages for the specific reporting requirements.

Award Range: Award amounts vary but will be within an annual range of $500-$1,000.

Notification and Payment: Written notification will be sent to the selected awardee. Payment will be processed via the awardee's University tuition account.

Support Scholarships

Even small contributions can really add up when supporting scholarships at Pitt Public Health. Give online or contact the school's development team by email or phone (412-624-5639) to discuss how you can help make a difference.