Pittsburgh Technical Institute, or PTI, is also known as Pittsburgh Technical College. PTI is a private, for-profit school that offers associate’s degrees and certificates, all at the undergraduate level. It’s located in Oakdale, Pennsylvania, which is a rural area west of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Technical Institute online offers programs entirely online or through a blend of in-person and digital learning.
The school’s primary focus is on helping students pursue careers in high-demand fields such as business, healthcare, and technology. Industry advisor boards help develop and design programs to meet the current needs of employers by following industry trends and technologies.i
What Makes Pittsburgh Technical Institute Online Unique
At Pittsburgh Technical Institute, each student pursuing an associate’s degree participates in an internship in their field of study. PTI’s intention is to help students learn important work skills, gain insight into a company’s environment, and add an important credential to their resume. Upon landing their internships, students get 11 weeks of intensive career training in addition to hands-on education.ii
In addition, students at Pittsburgh Technical Institute gain access to 13 career specialists dedicated to helping them build their careers. Students meet with their career services advisors to identify potential internship employers. They will also help students build their interviewing skills and resumes.ii
Pittsburgh Technical Institute’s History
In 1946, Pittsburgh Technical Institute started as a single-discipline school, opening its doors as the School of Management Engineering in downtown Pittsburgh. From there, it slowly grew into a school that offers 25 programs.i
The school’s first academic expansions were into drafting and graphic design. Then it expanded into the fields of electronics, travel, and hospitality. After that, it focused on becoming accredited and able to offer associate’s degrees. From there, it grew into the school that it is today.i
Pittsburgh Technical Institute Tuition
During the 2016-2017 school year, full-time undergraduate students paid an estimated $16,415 for tuition and fees. They paid an additional estimated $1,350 for books and supplies. For two years’ full-time tuition, students could pay an estimated $33,569 in tuition, an amount that includes potential inflation but does not account for the cost of books and supplies.iii
Pittsburgh Technical Institute Financial Aid
Eighty-eight percent of Pittsburgh Technical Institute’s undergraduate students, or 1,700 students, took out federal student loans to pay for school. Each of them secured an estimated $8,562 in the 2015-2016 school year.iii
That same year, 89 percent of Pittsburgh Technical Institute’s undergraduate students, or 1,720 students, received grant or scholarship aid. Sixty-five percent of those students, or 1,262 students, received federal Pell grants. On average, undergraduate students who received grant and scholarship aid received $7,739 in the 2015-2016 school year. An average of $4,746 of those dollars came from federal Pell grants.iii
Pittsburgh Technical Institute Online
Pittsburgh Technical Institute is one of several online technical schools that offers programs convenient for non-traditional students or students who prefer online learning. It offers online programs in four areas: Business Administration Management, Medical Coding, Medical Office Administration, and Business Administration. Its Business Administration program is one of the few that offers a bachelor’s degree, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. This B.S. offers four potential areas for specialization: management, accounting, and hospitality.iv
In the fall 2016 semester, ten percent of Pittsburgh Technical Institute’s students were enrolled entirely in online education. An additional 20 percent of students were enrolled in at least some online education. Seventy percent of students took classes entirely on campus.iii
Majors at Pittsburgh Technical Institute
During the 2015-2016 school year, 57 students earned a less-than-one-year certificate, 208 students earned a one to two year certificate, and 571 students earned associate’s degrees. Pittsburgh Technical Institute does not offer degrees beyond the associate’s degree level.iii
Students earning associate’s degrees during the 2015-2016 school year, most commonly did so in the following areas:iii
- Computer technology and computer systems technology
- Electrical, electronic, and communications engineering technology / technician
- Drafting and design technology
- Business administration and management
- Hotel / motel administration / management
- Registered nursing
- Medical / health management and clinical assistant or specialist
- Homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting, and related protective services
- Surgical technology
- Cooking and related culinary arts
- Welding technology
For certificates that took students less than one year to earn, the most popular subjects to study were:iii
- Medical insurance coding specialist / coder
- Network and system administration / administrator
- Nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant
- Petroleum technology
For students who pursued the one to two year certificates, these were the most popular subjects to study:iii
- Licensed practical and vocational nurse training
- Massage therapy and therapeutic massage
- Heating, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration maintenance technology / technician
- Welding technology / welder
PTI majors are available across disciplines through departments/schools such as:
- The School of Business
- The School of Criminal Justice
- The School of Design
- The School of Energy and Electronics Technology
- The School of Healthcare
- The School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts
- The School of Information Technology
- The School of Nursing
- The School of Trades Technology
Enrollment at Pittsburgh Technical Institute
1,880 students were enrolled in classes during the fall 2016 semester and year at Pittsburgh Technical Institute. One-hundred percent of them attended classes on a full-time basis. In fall 2015, seventy-four percent of Pittsburgh Technical Institute’s students were age 24 and younger, and 26 percent were age 25 and older. The large majority of them—81 percent—had in-state status. Just 19 percent of students came from out of state.iii
Applying to Pittsburgh Technical Institute
Pittsburgh Technical Institute has rolling admissions and classes that start four times per year. This means that applicants can apply throughout the year and do not have to meet a strict deadline. It does not have an application fee or charge fees for graduation, computer labs, student activities, or other components.v
PTI accepts high school graduates or applicants who have a GED. It does not assess prospective students’ ACT or SAT scores; nor does it necessarily consider applicants’ GPA. It does, however, require applicants to interview in person to discuss their passion, drive, determination, talents, and career goals. Distance education applicants may not have to interview on campus and should contact PTI for options.
Applicants will need to provide official transcripts and have a background check.v
Accreditation at Pittsburgh Technical Institute
Pittsburgh Technical Institute, or Pittsburgh Technical College, has institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. It has had accreditation from that agency since 2002.iii
The school has additional specialized accreditation or approval for the following programs and areas:vi
- Its practical nursing programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, which was formally known as the National League for Nursing Accrediting
- Its Surgical Technology and Medical Assisting programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Its Practical Nursing and Associate in Science, Nursing programs are approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing
- Its Therapeutic Massage Practitioner program is approved by the National Certificate Board for Therapeutic Massage Body Work
Find Online and On-Campus Options at Pittsburgh Technical Institute
If you’re looking for technical schools in PA, Pittsburgh Technical Institute, or more recently, Pittsburgh Technical College, might be perfect for you. PTI programs have on campus and online options, the majority of which are offered at the associate’s degree level. Internships and career guidance help support students pursue their careers. Look at Pittsburgh Technical College to find PTC classes or programs that fit your bill.
i ptcollege.edu/about | ii ptcollege.edu/admissions-financial-aid/admissions/internships | iii nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=215415 | iv ptcollege.edu/programs/ptc-online | v ptcollege.edu/admissions-financial-aid/admissions | vi ptcollege.edu/about/fast-facts
