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Pitzer College

Private

Claremont, CA

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Pitzer College was founded in 1963 by Russell K. Pitzer, a California citrus grower and Pomona College alumnus, as the sixth institution of the Claremont Colleges, opening as a women's college with a focus on the social and behavioral sciences; it became coeducational in 1970. Pitzer describes itself today as centered on environmental and interdisciplinary studies, the arts, and the social and natural sciences, with what it calls "an enduring social justice ethos" and student voting seats on its governing College Council.

Admissions

Admit rate25%
SAT rangeNot reported
ACT rangeNot reported
Undergrads1,227
Yield (admits who enroll)48%
Next deadlineNov 15, 2026 (ED1)

Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry

  • Early Decision I: Nov 15, 2026
  • Early Decision II: Jan 10, 2027
  • Regular Decision: Jan 10, 2027

Confirm on Pitzer College's own admissions site before you apply.

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$86,4662024-25
Tuition & fees$65,1922024-25
4-year grad rate83%
Median earnings, 10yr out$69,512

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.

Where do you stand against Pitzer College's numbers?

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How Pitzer College weighs your application

From Pitzer College's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankConsidered
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresNot considered
Application essayVery important
RecommendationsImportant
Nonacademic factors
InterviewConsidered
Extracurricular activitiesImportant
Talent/abilityConsidered
Character/personal qualitiesVery important
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Not considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyConsidered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Very important
BUILD YOUR FIT SCORESee how Pitzer College actually weighs your profile, free, no account needed
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Pitzer College weighs in your application

Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans20%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out84%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Human Resources Management and Services$89,636/yr
Social Sciences
Political Science and Government$68,831/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity994
Typical room charge$11,682
Typical board charge$8,968

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPAConsidered, not required
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Pitzer College look for in applicants?

Per Pitzer College's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, application essay, level of interest (demonstrated interest), character/personal qualities as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Pitzer College's acceptance rate?

Pitzer College in Claremont, CA admits approximately 25% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

How much does Pitzer College cost?

Pitzer College's total cost of attendance is reported at $86,466 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Pitzer College?

Pitzer College's deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 15, 2026; Early Decision II Jan 10, 2027; Regular Decision Jan 10, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Pitzer College require students to live on campus?

No -- Pitzer College doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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