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Prospective Freshmen

The College of Business Administration (CBA) offers freshman admission and enrolls approximately 300 freshman students each year. To apply for CBA, students should select one of the CBA major options on the University of Pittsburgh admissions application. Admission is handled on a rolling basis, which means that there is not a specific application deadline by which to apply. Instead, applicants are considered for and informed of admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are accepted for any of Pitt's three academic semesters: fall (August), spring (January), and summer (May), although the majority of freshmen enroll for the fall semester. While we do not have a specific deadline for freshman applications, we do encourage you to apply early, and we welcome you to visit CBA.

Preparing for Admission to CBA

Although admission to the CBA is competitive, you can increase your chances by preparing early.

During application review, we will make an overall assessment of your academic background and accomplishments as presented in your application materials.

Admissions Requirements

Among the factors considered for admission are your high-school grades, class rank, and ACT/SAT scores and the competitiveness of your high-school curriculum. We recommend taking a strong college preparatory curriculum that includes four years of high-school mathematics. During the senior year, students should be enrolled in a challenging math course such as calculus, precalculus, or trigonometry. A curriculum heavy in honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) course work is strongly recommended and greatly increases your chances of admission.

It is also recommended that you complete at least three years of the same foreign language while in high school. If you do so, you will be exempt from Pitt’s foreign-language requirement. Please note, however, that many students choose to continue with a foreign language while enrolled in CBA, particularly those students interested in international business.

Extracurricular Activities

You may also want to include information about your activities, part-time jobs, volunteer work, and travel experiences. Because strong leadership skills are important for success in the business world, we encourage you to note any positions of leadership you’ve held.

Personal Essay and Letters of Recommendation

Although these items are optional, you may want to use them to strengthen your application. In your essay, you might recount a meaningful experience, describe an accomplishment, or explain some aspect of your academic record. Letters of recommendation can also add insight into your personal characteristics, academic strengths, and unique qualities.

Apply Now

More details about how to apply are available from the University of Pittsburgh Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. We encourage you to apply online.