Approximately 70 percent of the student body receives scholarship funds from the School of Law. The Law School offers various scholarships at the time of admissions. Some scholarship require an additional application and others are based on the materials submitted in your admissions application. If admitted, you will be emailed any scholarship application that requires additional materials. Scholarships can cover up to full-tuition and are renewed in the second and third years provided the student remains in good academic standing.
Blue and Gold Dean's Scholarship
The Blue and Gold Dean's Scholarship is a full tuition scholarship. Students will be invited to apply for this full tuition scholarship based on their outstanding academic excellence, life experience, leadership ability, and many other factors. Admitted students who have these factors, will be sent an email invitation to apply for this prestigious scholarship. The application deadline for this scholarship is February 15th. This Scholarship will be renewable for the second and third years of law school as long as the student remains in good academic standing.
Chief Justice Ralph J. Cappy Scholarship
In profound gratitude for his devoted service to the University of Pittsburgh and as an enduring tribute to his distinguished legal career, the University established the Chief Justice Ralph J. Cappy Endowed Scholarship. The Cappy Scholar will be a Pennsylvania resident with high academic qualifications, who holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and intends to pursue a career in public interest. Admitted students who fit the Cappy Scholar qualifications will be invited to submit an application. The Cappy Scholarship will distribute a $15,000 scholarship annually towards your Pitt Law tuition. This scholarship will be renewable for the second and third years of law school as long as the student remains in good academic standing . In addition, Cappy Scholars will have their Cappy Scholarship matched with the Dean's Scholarship creating a full tuition scholarship.
Derrick A. Bell Scholarship in Law and Social Justice
This scholarship, an initiative of the Derrick A Bell Fund for Excellence, will support student engagement in areas consistent with Professor Bell's legacy of advancing social justice, access to justice, and equality before the law. The Derrick A. Bell Scholarship will be awarded to one incoming student who meets certain criteria and qualifications, including: admission to Pitt Law by March 1; a record of high academic achievement; a demonstrated commitment to enhancing diversity and social justice; and evidence of overcoming disadvantage or adversity including, but not limited to, being the first in one’s family to pursue higher education or overcoming substantial socioeconomic disadvantage. The Bell Scholarship will distribute a $10,000 scholarship annually towards your Pitt Law tuition. This scholarship will be renewable for the second and third years of law school.
Donald I. Moritz Scholarship
The Donald I. Moritz Scholarship was established in 1995. Mr. Moritz earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1948 and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Pittsburgh in 1951. He is retired President and CEO of the Equitable Resources, Inc. This scholarship was set up in his honor by Equitable Resources, Inc. to assist worthy law students with the cost of their legal education. Admitted students are automatically considered for this scholarship on the based on factors in their admissions materials. This scholarship is renewable for the second and third years of law school..
University of Pittsburgh Law Alumni Association Scholarship
The Law Alumni Association Scholarship is awarded annually to third year Pitt Law students. This Scholarship gives students the freedom to pursue career goals by helping to offset educational loans. The Law Alumni Association typically awards three scholarships annually. Consideration is given to grades, activities, interest and financial need. Pitt Law students in the spring of their second year are invited to apply by completing the University of Pittsburgh Law Alumni Association (UPLAA) Scholarship application and submitting the required supporting materials by the March deadline. The Law Alumni Association will select a number of applicants for a required interview prior to the final awarding of the scholarship. Download the application here (PDF download). Please visit the Law Alumni Association website for more information.
Susan Yohe (JD '79) Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition Scholarship
Under Susan Yohe’s leadership, the Pittsburgh legal community has been educated on and unified to fulfill the PLDIC’s mission to increase the hiring, retention, and inclusion of legal professionals from diverse backgrounds. Throughout her legal career, Yohe has been dedicated to advancing new lawyers, particularly law students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. The Susan Yohe PLDIC Scholarship honors Susan’s commitment to these causes by supporting future generations of Pittsburgh law students. The Susan Yohe PLDIC Scholarship will be awarded to a Pitt Law student for their first year in the amount of $10,000 with committed support at the same or greater level in their second and third years of law school. The Yohe scholar will demonstrate a commitment to improving diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession. Admitted students will be invited to apply for the Susan Yohe PLDIC Scholarship.
Pitt2Pitt
Beginning in the fall of 2024, entering 1L J.D. students will be eligible for the Pitt2Pitt Scholarship. The Pitt2Pitt Scholarship helps University of Pittsburgh graduating seniors and alumni to complete a Pitt master's degree or certificate program. To be eligible to apply for a Pitt2Pitt scholarship, the applicant must have received a bachelor’s, graduate and/or professional degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and be in good academic, disciplinary and financial standing with the University. Applicants who are simultaneously enrolled in more than one academic program that is eligible for the Pitt2Pitt Scholarship may only receive a maximum of one Pitt2Pitt Scholarship per term. University of Pittsburgh employees who receive Education Benefits through the University are not eligible to receive a Pitt2Pitt Scholarship.
Public Interest Scholarship
First year applicants who are U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents and have a strong commitment to public interest law can apply for the Public Interest Scholarship. The Public Interest Scholarship will be emailed to all admitted students. Based on an evaluation of the application materials provided, the Scholarship Committee is looking for students who possess a strong commitment to the area of public interest. The strength of their commitment will be judged based on their prior work in the area, the ideas they have for work during their legal education and the career they have planned after graduation. The Committee is also looking for students who have done well academically in their undergraduate and/or graduate work.
Awards will be renewed for the second and third years of law school as long as all renewal criteria specified at the time of application are met. When accepting the scholarship offer, recipients must make a moral commitment that they will be dedicated to public service work throughout their legal career.
The Office of Admissions must receive the scholarship application and all supporting documentation by March 15. In order for a completed application to be considered by the Scholarship Committee, the applicant must be admitted to the University of Pittsburgh School of Law; therefore, it is imperative that students apply for admission early in the process.
Questions regarding this scholarship can be addressed to the Office of Admissions by calling (412) 648-1805. For more information about Pitt Law's public interest student organization please visit Pitt Legal Income Sharing Foundation (PLISF).