How safe is the university? Is it in the hood? Also, would you consider it a party school?
On the whole it’s in a very nice area of Pittsburgh. Near the Botanical Gardens and the Museum of Natural History. Of the several urban campuses we’ve visited it was in one of the nicest areas.
How does that compare to Chicago
You should ask this question on the University of Pittsburgh forum if you want more answers. The Pitt campus is a distinct campus but it is not set apart from the city. There are two busy streets that run right through campus. Like any big city there are zones one needs to avoid or just be aware of as they are walking through.
Do you want to party? Then yes, you can find your people at Pitt.
Are you wanting to avoid the party scene and still have fun in a city with a vibrant cultural scene, tons of restaurants, great neighborhoods and many things to do? Then yes, you can find your people at Pitt.
Pitt has a police substation right on campus - which deters alot of crime. There are “zones” to avoid but for students living on campus, going from dorm to class etc, you are not walking through those zones. The one area that has some incidents occasionally is South Oakland - across the Blvd of Allies, or the Hill district west of campus. You can get more detail here http://www.police.pitt.edu/