by Doug Schmitt
BusinessSchools.com Staff Writer
September 27, 2006
Located in southwestern Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh was founded in 1758. Historically, it was a hub for commerce and manufacturing, having a very large and dominating steel industry from which it gained the nickname of the “Steel City”. Today, Pittsburgh and its outlying areas have strong healthcare, business, and financial industries as part of its expanding economy. Additionally, the city features an abundance of indoor and outdoor recreations to enjoy. Art galleries, live music, a world-class zoo & aquarium, museums, fine dining & ethnic cuisine, a huge parks system, and the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers guarantee entertainment for all. With a metropolitan population of 1.3 million, Pittsburgh is growing in a cultural renaissance that continues to attract new-comers to the region.
Employment and Internships
The Pittsburgh economy features a plethora of industries including high-technology, research, healthcare, insurance, and financial firms. Business students will find internships and employment opportunities with many large companies, non-profit organizations, and other companies in the city. Some larger employers in the region include Alcoa, Bayer Corp., Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Mellon Financial Corp., PNC Financial Services Group, and UPMC Health System.
Many Pittsburgh residents are working in business and financial occupations. According to the Pennsylvania state Center for Workforce Information and Analysis, the job outlook for business is good through 2012. Business and financial occupations as a whole will experience 11% new jobs. Currently in Pittsburgh, business occupations employ 142,000; approximately 69,000 are employed in financial services.
Education
Pittsburgh students wishing to study business have many options for education. One of those options, the University of Pittsburgh, offers undergraduate programs through its College of Business Administration and graduate programs through the Joseph M. Katz School of Business. Some areas of study include Accounting, Business Administration & Management, General Management, Information Systems, and Marketing.
Another choice is Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business. Offering Bachelors and Masters Programs, Tepper specializes in many areas such as Finance, Entrepreneurship, Operations Management, and Information Technology. Numerous other schools including LaRoche College, Duquesne University, Carlow College, and DeVry University offer degree programs in a wide range of specialties including Accounting, Business Management, E-Commerce, Financial Planning, Health Care Administration, International Business, Marketing, and Project Management.
Financial Aid
Students in Pittsburgh will find a many financial aid options to assist them with the costs of tuition. Many grants and loans are available including Pell Grants, Stafford and Plus Loans, and Perkins loans. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) offers aid. These can all be applied for by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Scholarships are another type of aid that students may seek out. Similar to grants, scholarships do not need to be repaid. A variety of scholarships are available to Pennsylvania residents as well as students from across the country. One such scholarship, the Pittsburgh Advertising Federation Scholarship Fund,
is available to southwestern PA residents that are attending school for studies including business and advertising, and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. Eligible recipients are awarded up to $1,500.
More scholarships can be found by visiting The Pittsburgh Foundation.
Summary
Pittsburgh offers business students a myriad of educational resources, a healthy economy, and numerous internship and job opportunities. In addition, the region offers a fantastic blend of the recreational activities, making it a prime location to students to study business.
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