The University of Pittsburgh's 130-acre campus is located in the Oakland district, three miles from downtown. This area is noted for its parks, museums, libraries and the renowned botanicalgardens of Phipps Conservatory. As a member of the Association of American Universities, the University of Pittsburgh is one of the foremost research institutions in the United States. In its third century, the University is committed to further enhancing its programs in teaching, research, and public service and to maintaining the stature and prestige of its schools, faculties, and graduates. At the center of the Pittsburgh campus is the Cathedral of Learning. This forty-two-story Gothic skyscraper, housing classrooms and administrative offices, is one of the tallest school buildings in the world. The current Pittsburgh campus enrollment is 27,710. Of that number, 15,367 are undergraduate students.

Carnegie Mellon University is also located in Oakland. First envisioned in 1900 by steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie Mellon University has steadily built upon its foundations of excellence and innovation to become one of America's leading universities. While Carnegie Mellon has the collegiate feel of a suburban campus, the surrounding Pittsburgh community provides all of the cultural and social advantages of the big city. The University is two hours from the mountains, which have some of the best skiing in the East, and a short plane ride away from many major metropolitan areas, including Boston, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh resides in the heart of the Golden Triangle where there are free concerts in Market Square and a thriving nightlife.

Downtown Pittsburgh is also home to Point Park College and one of the two Robert Morris University campuses. The downtown area features the Strip District, a popular stomping ground for students that boasts fine restaurants and dance clubs.

Characterized by a willingness to innovate, Point Park College has been active since its inception in establishing internship possibilities with the many resources for career preparation in Pittsburgh. In addition to those for the performing arts, internship programs have been developed with local broadcasting stations, area hospitals, and the management and technical training programs of such corporate giants as USX and PPG Industries. The College's numerous activities are designed to meet the needs of a diversified student body, representing more than forty-two states and thirty-nine countries.

Metropolitan Pittsburgh has a population of more than 2 million. In the Golden Triangle, gleaming office towers loom high above landscaped plazas, fountains, and a 36-acre park fronting on Pittsburgh's three rivers. More than 100 major corporations have their headquarters in the city, making it the fifth-largest corporate center in the nation. Through its prominence as a corporate hub, a home for high-tech industries, and a major production center for steel, the city provides a vast array of career opportunities, as well as a distinctive population mix. Pittsburgh continues to be named one of the most livable cities in the United States in Rand McNally Places Rated Almanac.

Through the philanthropic efforts of such financial entrepreneurs as Carnegie and Frick, Pittsburgh has had a long tradition as a cultural center. The city has an excellent symphony and ballet, and the Pittsburgh Opera gives performances regularly. Legitimate theater, ethnic festivals, and top nightclub attractions fill out the entertainment spectrum. In addition, the nation's first educational TV station, WQED, provides a wealth of stimulating offerings. PNC Park, Heinz Field, and the Mellon Arena, with its retractable dome, are sites of professional sporting events and frequent entertainment spectacles and are within walking distance of the College. A short bus ride away is the Oakland Civic Center, the location of several renowned museums.

Founded in 1869, Chatham College is the oldest women's college west of the Alleghenies. A private, liberal arts college, Chatham is situated on 32 park-like acres in the city of Pittsburgh-only minutes away from a bustling downtown where corporate headquarters provide first-class opportunities for internships. For 129 years, Chatham has been preparing women for personal and professional success through a combination of strong academics, varied cocurricular programs, lively on-campus life and a commitment to engaging its students in service leadership and professional development activities.

Carlow College was founded in 1929 in response to a local need for a Catholic women's college. The College's central location gives students opportunities for internships in varied businesses and agencies. Students in health-related fields complete their clinical experiences in the many fine teaching hospitals, clinics, and private health-care facilities in the city of Pittsburgh. City buses stop in front of the campus, and campus parking is available for commuting students.

Founded in 1965 by the Sisters of Divine Providence, La Roche College is a Catholic, coeducational, international four-year institution. La Roche College's attractive 80-acre wooded campus is located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, just 10 minutes from the center of the city and the College was recently named the thirteenth-safest college campus in the United States.