<p>My son loved Duquesne and it looks like Pitt is nearby. Anyone know how the campus compares to Duquesne? How far apart are they? Pitt seems to have a very good reputation. What are the strong programs at Pitt? Obviously, Pitt is much larger, but does it feel like a campus?</p>
<p>Not a student but been to PGH many times.</p>
<p>Pitt is about 4 miles from Duquesne. Duquesne is downtown, nice campus (good basketball team). City of Pittsburgh isn't so big so all attractions in the "golden triangle" are walking distance from Duquesne.</p>
<p>Pitt is in Oakland section (university area) also called Pittsburgh's second city. Oakland is much more student friendly than downtown, with Pitt and CMU next to each other in Oakland.</p>
<p>Some strong suits at Pitt among others...anything medical (premed, nursing, pharmacy), sciences, engineering, philosophy.</p>
<p>Some major roads (Forbes and Fifth) crisscross the lower campus. Giant medical/hospital complex dominates mid-campus. Very urban campus but with some beautiful areas near Heinz Chapel and Cathedral of Learning. Current students willhave better handle on this.</p>
<p>Son loves Pitt and the Oakland area. I agree with strong programs mentioned, and might add the plethora of foreign languages. Although there is traffic on the campus, I think it does feel like a campus because most of the people there are either students or university-related. There are lots of student hang-out spots, a few green areas and Schenley Park in the back yard. </p>
<p>I think the main aesthetic difference between Pitt and Duquesne is that Pitt has major streets running through the campus (but that is great for transportation to other city attractions) and admittedly has some helicopter traffic to the medical center in south oakland. Duquesne is actually more in the central city, but the major traffic skirts the campus.</p>
<p>Forbes Avenue and Fifth Avenue (both one way in college areas) are the major roads separated by one short block, so you can probably see what I mean by checking a map. BTW, Mercy Hospital (at Duquesne) also is a major medical center and has helicopter traffic.</p>
<p>Son lived on Forbes one year and will live on Fifth next year. Although it is a matter of personal opinion, the traffic noise is really not too much and it is not a problem for him. He is on the helicopter path this year, and he has even learned to tune them out!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the information. It sounds like it's worth a look!</p>
<p>... I earned my BA at DU and my MLS at Pitt.</p>
<p>Duquesne is a compact campus located between Downtown Pittsburgh and what is euphemistically called the "inner city," a Pittsburgh neighborhood called the Hill District (aka The Hill). Most of the campus is set up on the Bluff, a piece a land sandwiched between Downtown and Hill. The campus itself is pretty safe.</p>
<p>A number of buses running between Downtown Pittsburgh and the eastern neighborhoods run past Duquesne as well the Pitt campuses.</p>
<p>Pitt's campus sprawls across Oakland. The further west, north or south one gets from the Cathedral of Learning, the sketchier the neighborhoods become. Parts of Oakland I wouldn't walk at night and even in daytime, I would keep my guard up.</p>
<p>When it comes to off campus housing, Pitt and CMU students favor the eastern neighborhoods (Oakland, Squirrel Hill, Shadyside), Duquesne favors the southern part of the city (South Side, Mt. Washington, Brookline, Beechview)</p>
<p>Academically, Pitt is a research oriented institution. A lot of classes are taught by grad students or graduate assistants. Duquesne is more concerning with teaching, although some departments, such as the English Department, use a lot of graduate students.</p>
<p>That's good to know about the neighborhoods. I'd wondered which ones weren't as safe. How hard is it to avoid those areas?</p>
<p>The immediate campus area at Pitt is pretty safe. Pittsburgh is considered to be a safe town. However, one shouldn't take chances and one should always keep his/her guard up.</p>
<p>Once one gets beyond the Oakland business district going west or south, the neighborhood changes. Once one gets to the Carlow University campus, the neighborhood gets a rough reputation.</p>
<p>South Oakland used to be an Irish/Italian neighborhood; Dan Marino grew up in South Oakland. Much of the residential housing stock is now rented out to students.</p>
<p>Sticking to the main thoroughfares (Fifth, Forbes, Craig, etc), not taking chances, keeping aware and keeping one's wits about, one should be okay</p>
<p>i wouldn't want to walk around by myself in the dark at either campus, although i would probably feel more comfortable doing so at Duquesne, but only on the campus, def not the surrounding area. </p>
<p>Duquesne has much much more of a "campus atmosphere," and is much more compact. Pitt is rather sprawled throughout oakland all the way to shadyside.</p>
<p>At pitt there are lots of people walking around who aren't college students (like me!), and forbes and fifth create lots of traffic and noise. </p>
<p>now, the reason i like pitt more, in terms of location, is that oakland is a million times better then downtown. Downtown is DEAD on the weekends unless there is some fancy, expensive party. Downtown is gross (IMHO) --busy people rushing to get to work, noise, smell... (although duquesne is really separated from this, but understand that you proabably won't be going into town on the weekends)</p>
<p>Oakland OTOH is much more active on the weekends. lots of parties, lots of cafes, lots of restaurants, some shopping. for this simple fact, in my book, pitt > duquesne.</p>
<p>Well, Pitt does have a campus atmosphere, just an urban one. You either like the hustle and bustle, or you don't.</p>