Did you know that your student technology account can get you way more than just email and Wi-Fi? Pitt students can access tools, software, and services worth more than $2,500 in retail value! If that’s news to you, here are some of the tech perks that can make your student life a whole lot easier.
💻 High-Powered Computing
As a Pitt student, you have access to the tech you need when your current laptop situation just isn’t cutting it. Whether you're rendering 3D models, running statistical analysis, or coding your next big project, you can get professional-grade computing power — no expensive personal setup required.
- Student Computing Labs are located across campus with Mac and Windows PCs loaded with over 150 specialized applications. Need MATLAB at midnight? AutoCAD before class? It's all there, ready to use.
- The Virtual Computing Lab lets you access the same software remotely from any device, anywhere, without needing to go to campus. Simply log in with your University Computing Account and enjoy the extra software and power on your own device.
- Software Download Service offers nearly 70 titles for engineering, mathematics, statistics, and more at no additional cost for software download on your personal device.
🎥 Digital Tools for the Classroom and Beyond
Digital learning doesn’t stop at Canvas. As a Pitt student, you have tools both inside and outside the classroom that can accentuate your learning experience.
- Panopto (Pitt Video) is used to record and upload lectures. If your class uses it, it can be a powerful resource. You can search within videos for specific topics, add your own annotations, and review material at your own pace.
- Top Hat powers interactive class polling and lecture engagement. Suggest it to your professor or try it out in your student organizations to participate in real-time questions, quizzes, and discussions that make large groups feel more connected.
- Zoom is probably familiar, but did you know that your student account gives you professional-grade access? Host study groups or collaborate on group projects with features like breakout rooms and recording that free Zoom accounts don't include.
🎓 Learning Outside the Classroom
It’s always a good time to learn something new. From career prep to life skills to new hobbies, your University Computing Account unlocks learning resources that go beyond your course syllabus.
- LinkedIn Learning gives you access to over 16,000 courses on everything from Excel formulas to graphic design to interview skills. Building your resume? Prepping for an internship? Searching for interpersonal advice at work? There's a course for that.
- Microsoft Certification programs let you demonstrate verified skills in data, AI, security, and cloud technology. In an increasingly tech-forward job market, these credentials can set you apart from the competition.
🎨 Creative and Professional Tools for Any Project
As a student, there’s a good chance you’ll need to create something sooner or later. Whether you're designing a poster, writing a research paper, or building a presentation, you have access to industry-standard software that professionals use every day.
- Microsoft 365 gives you the full suite — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more. Work online through your browser or download desktop versions to your personal computer. Either way, your files sync across devices through OneDrive, so you can start a project on your laptop and finish it on a lab computer without missing a beat.
- Adobe Creative Cloud provides access to Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and the entire Adobe suite. Design graphics for a student organization, edit photos for your portfolio, or produce videos for class assignments with the same tools that design studios and marketing agencies rely on.
📊 Storage, Surveys, and Collaboration
Group projects are inevitable, but the chaos doesn't have to be. Between version control nightmares, “final_final_ACTUAL_final.docx” files, and oversized documents you’ll never be able to email, collaboration can feel like its own full-time job. But the good news is that you already have professional-grade tools designed to make teamwork actually work.
- Microsoft OneDrive provides cloud storage with support for files up to 15GB so you can share that massive video project without compression or file splitting. Share documents, collaborate in real-time, and access your work from any device.
- Qualtrics is a professional survey platform that would normally cost hundreds of dollars per year. Create surveys for research projects, analyze responses with built-in statistical tools, and generate presentation-ready graphs without paying for a subscription.
- LabArchives Classroom Edition provides a secure electronic research notebook to store and manage everything from images to spreadsheets to sample data. Perfect for lab courses where documentation matters.
🖨️ Print Anywhere, Anytime
With so much of our lives happening online, printing can be easy to overlook. But on the off-chance you need good-old-fashioned ink and paper, Pitt’s got you covered.
- PittPrint stations are located at more than 70 locations across campus. Submit your job from your laptop, phone, or any web browser, and your documents wait in a secure queue for up to 48 hours. Pick them up wherever is most convenient — no need to print from the same computer where you're working.
If you love paper, check out PittPrint 101: Your Guide to Student Printing on Campus.
Your technology fee covers access to professional software, learning platforms, and lots of high-powered computing. Some of these tools might be the answer to problems you didn't know technology could solve, or help you tackle projects you've been putting off because you thought you'd need expensive software.
Take a look at what's included in the full list of Student Technology Perks, and start making use of resources you didn’t know you had.
— Pitt Digital
