The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has been cited as one of the colleges devoting the highest share of annual donor contributions for student financial aid.
Ranking at No. 4 on a list of colleges that devote the highest percentage of their dollars to financial aid, Pitt-Bradford was commended by the Council for Aid to Education in a publication Tuesday by the financial information website MarketWatch.
For the giving year ending on June 30, 2016, Pitt-Bradford used 77.2-percent of the $1.59 million in gifts it received for financial aid. The council, which keeps track of college giving, said that the average amount institutions designate for financial aid is typically 16-percent of donations.
“Making college affordable for students and their families is a high priority at Pitt-Bradford,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, president. “We’re very fortunate that our friends and supporters share our conviction that all students who want to improve their lot in life should be given the chance to pursue a college education. By establishing over 200 private donor scholarships, our donors make it possible for an untold number of students to become productive citizens able to contribute to the local and national economy.”
Among students who apply for financial aid at Pitt-Bradford, 98.9-percent receive assistance through private donor scholarships, institutional financial aid, loans, work study or undergraduate research funds. Pitt-Bradford has more than 200 privately funded scholarships that award students amounts ranging from $200 to $3,000 annually.
During the 2016 fiscal year, the university awarded $671,277 in donor scholarship money to 465 students.
In addition to helping students pay their tuition, Pitt-Bradford has been recognized for its value during the last year.
Last fall, Washington Monthly magazine included Pitt-Bradford among its listing of “best bang for the buck” universities.
And earlier in 2016, Pitt-Bradford was one of 13 institutions recognized by President Obama for helping low-income students to graduate.
