Point Park University (PPU) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Point Park University (Point Park) opened in 1933 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a business training college. In 1960, it changed its name to Point Park Junior College and moved into Academic Hall on Wood Street. Point Park soon expanded its academic programs to include engineering, education, and journalism. It became a four-year institution in 1966 and began conferring bachelor’s degrees in addition to its associate degree offerings. The first graduate programs in journalism and mass communication were added in 1981, and the college soon added theater and dance programs, laying the foundation for today’s Conservatory of Performing Arts. In 2003, the college became a university and changed its name to what it is today.

Today, Point Park serves more than 4,000 students across its four schools: Arts and Sciences, Business, Communication, and Performing Arts. It offers 85 undergraduate programs and 12 graduate programs in a variety of subjects. The university continues to expand, continually adding new buildings and programs to meet the needs of its students. The newest planned addition is the Academic Village at Point Park University, which will offer an integrated living and learning facility across multiple blocks in the middle of downtown Pittsburgh.

Videos

Information Summary

Ranks 108th in Pennsylvania and 1168th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	78.1
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$46,090
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	25 / 1190
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	20 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	76% / 33%
Enrollment Total (all students)	4,099

Academics

Point Park offers 85 undergraduate programs and 12 graduate programs spread aross the disciplines of Arts and Sciences, Business, Communication, and Performing Arts.

School of Arts and Sciences

The School of Arts and Sciences is the largest program in the University. It offers associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in subjects like biotechnology, intelligence and national security, legal studies, and English/creative writing. This is the school that offers the most variety of academic topics, so it is suitable for students who may not know what they are most interested in as they enter freshman year. The Capstone program lets associate degree students transfer their credits directly into a baccalaureate degree. The School of Arts and Sciences also awards a number of master’s degrees and certificate programs.

School of Business

The School of Business has its roots in Point Park’s original mission as a business school. Today, the program offers 12 bachelor’s degrees, 5 associate’s degrees, and 2 master’s degrees. Students can study general areas like management or more specific topics like information technology or human resource management. A number of minors allow students to add additional studies in different topics. The School of Business offers a Capstone program that allows associate’s degree students to transfer their existing credits into the first two years of a bachelor’s degree. Students can also join business-specific professional clubs like Point Park’s Net Impact chapter and the Student Account Association.

School of Communication

The School of Communication is driven by hands-on education and real-world experience. Students can earn bachelor’s degrees in topics like advertising, multimedia, photojournalism, and broadcast reporting, or move on to a master’s program in Journalism and Mass Communication. There is also an M.A./M.B.A. program offered in conjunction with the School of Business. Communications students are encouraged to pursue internships and hands-on experience, so there is a great deal of faculty and staff support for these types of extracurricular programs.

Conservatory of Performing Arts

The Conservatory of Performing Arts is Point Park’s most unique academic school. Students are selected through an audition process that accepts only 7% of applicants. Classes have the opportunity to learn from full-time faculty as well as world-renowned guest artists in many performing arts fields. The Conservatory is divided into the departments of dance, theatre, and cinema and digital arts. Each department gives students exceptional opportunities outside the classroom, including New York City and Los Angeles employer showcases and year-round performances at the Point Park Pittsburgh Playhouse.

Most Popular Fields of Study

Gallery

Unique Programs

Point Park University is well-known for its Conservatory of Performing Arts programs. These are extremely competitive programs, and only 7% of students who audition are accepted for study. The program boasts a brand new, LEED Gold certified Dance Complex that provides state-of-the-art facilities for its students. The Conservatory also offers one of the only all-digital Cinema and Digital Arts programs in the country. Its students produce more than 300 films each year.

Admissions

Point Park has a competitive admissions process, so not every student that applies is guaranteed a spot at the university. The average incoming Point Park student has a 3.20 GPA and a 1550 SAT or a 22 ACT. Students are very focused and know what industry they want to pursue. Applicants should also be willing to work hard and take advantage of the creative opportunities available at Point Park.

To begin the application process, fill out the application form online through Point Park’s PointWeb application page. The application includes spaces for extracurricular activities, honors and awards, and a personal essay, which is used to evaluate students for potential departmental scholarships. Freshmen applicants will also need to submit official SAT or ACT test scores, a high school transcript or G.E.D. results, letters of recommendation, and a resume.

Financial Aid

Students seeking financial aid should begin by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is available online at fafsa.gov. This form determines eligibility for a variety of federal aid programs, including grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. It is also required as a supplementary document for many third-party scholarship and loan applications.

For even more funding opportunities, students should visit the Tuition and Financial Aid page on the Point Park website. There are many third party sponsors of merit-based or talent-based scholarships that students may be eligible for. There are also a number of departmental scholarships which freshmen may earn on the basis of their application essay. More than 93% of students at Point Park receive financial aid of some kind.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 1477th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Pennsylvania.

Students

Though more than 80% of its undergraduates come from Pennsylvania, Point Park draws students from all over the world. Its international community represents 34 countries, and the school also enrolls students from 44 states. Most Point Park students are traditional college students, meaning that they are aged 18 to 24 and are entering their freshman year after graduating high school.

Nearly 1,000 students live on campus in one of the University’s residence halls. Living on campus makes it easy for students to meet their classmates, walk to classes, socialize in dining halls and student lounges, and gain access to the University’s maintenance and support services.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Bibliography

Point Park University Office of Full-time Undergraduate Admissions. Application for Admissions. Print.

Point Park University. Web. 26 Sept. 2011.

Welcome | Welcome to PointWeb. Web. 26 Sept. 2011.

Point Park University