Pitzer College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Claremont, California. It enrolls 1,227 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes92
Value21
Affordability6
Selectivity94
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 25.2%, Pitzer College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
25.2%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Pitzer College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
3.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Pitzer College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $34,191 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$34,191
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
11%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
20%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$65,192
Room & Board (on-campus)
$22,150
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,314
Books & Supplies
$1,100
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,300
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,300
Total Cost of Attendance
$86,466
Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$14,535
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,769
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,846
$75,001 – $110,000
$29,452
Over $110,000
$46,793
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$16,750Medianpercentile
$18,30075%percentile
$25,75490%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $13,000
↓ $3,750
No Pell $13,250
↓ $3,500
Female students $11,950
↓ $4,800
Male students $15,440
↓ $1,310
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,000, less than completers ($16,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
89% of full-time students who enrolled at Pitzer College graduate within six years, and 94% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
89%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
94%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Pitzer College earn a median of $69,512 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$69,512
Earning > $25K
75%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$50,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$53,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↓
0.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Pitzer College is home to 1,227 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,227
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
23%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 47.3%580
Asian 12.9%158
Hispanic 12.1%148
Other 10.7%131
International 8.6%105
Black 4.2%52
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Pitzer College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbClaremont, California
Housing
Strongly residential987 beds for 1,227 students
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Pitzer College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
43 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pitzer College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$255M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$109,646
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
106 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
42
40%
$141,372
Associate Professors
16
15%
$113,642
Assistant Professors
16
15%
$93,662
Instructors
26
25%
$71,915
Lecturers
6
6%
$83,034
Pros & Cons of Pitzer College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pitzer College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Pitzer College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pitzer College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Pitzer College.
Is Pitzer College hard to get into?
Pitzer College is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 25.2%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.
What is the acceptance rate at Pitzer College?
Pitzer College has an acceptance rate of 25.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Pitzer College cost?
The average net price after aid at Pitzer College is $34,191 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Pitzer College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $69,512 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $34,191 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Pitzer College known for?
Pitzer College is best known for its programs in Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Political Science, Human Resources. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Pitzer College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Pitzer College are $69,512, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Pitzer College accredited?
Yes. Pitzer College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Pitzer College?
Pitzer College enrolls 1,227 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Pitzer College?
Pitzer College graduates 89% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Pitzer College a public or private college?
Pitzer College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Pitzer College located?
Pitzer College is located in Claremont, California.
What programs does Pitzer College offer?
Pitzer College offers 43 distinct programs. The most popular include Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Political Science, Human Resources.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Pitzer College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pitzer College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
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