Pitzer College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Claremont, California · Private nonprofit · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-blind
- Early Decision
- Early Decision II
- 3,683
- Applicants
- 989
- Admitted27%
- 273
- Enrolled
- 28%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Selective27% admittedRanked #44 (tie) in National Liberal Arts CollegesU.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Pitzer College (see the source), read on 2026-09-16.
Is Pitzer College a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Pitzer College against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Pitzer College is a private nonprofit university in Claremont, California that admits about 27% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $34,191 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Political Science and Government, Research and Experimental Psychology and Natural Resources Conservation and Research, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 83% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 6.5 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Pitzer College is a private institution located in Claremont, California with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Pitzer College admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 27%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $34,191 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Pitzer College?
52% of enrolled students at Pitzer College had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 3.95, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does Pitzer College weight in admissions?
Pitzer College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
5- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Application essay
- Character/personal qualities
- Level of applicant's interest
Important
2- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
Considered
8- Class rank
- Interview
- Talent/ability
- First generation status
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
3- Standardized test scores
- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Pitzer College typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: Pitzer College does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • Test-free (scores not used) through Fall 2027 entry; returns to test-optional for Fall 2028 entry.
- • Changing for 2027-2028 applicants: tests will be optional.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Pitzer College's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 33% |
| Top 25% of class | 100% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| % submitting class rank | 14% |
How much does Pitzer College actually cost?
Published tuition is $65,192 for in-state students and $65,192 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $22,150 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $34,191 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 11% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $67,484 |
| Room and board | $22,926 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $34,191 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 100% |
| Average need-based grant | $56,715 |
| Average merit award, no financial need2 first-year students received one | $5,000 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 24% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $23,350 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $70 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Pitzer College
| Regular deadline | 1/6 |
| Notification date | 4/1 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 15 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 6 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 43% |
Will my child graduate from Pitzer College?
These predict outcomes at Pitzer College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Pitzer College
The most popular undergraduate programs at Pitzer College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Political Science and Government, Research and Experimental Psychology and Natural Resources Conservation and Research. Across all programs, Pitzer College confers roughly 168 bachelor's degrees a year. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Government | 26 | n/a |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 24 | n/a |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 22 | n/a |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 22 | n/a |
| Mathematics | 21 | n/a |
| Economics | 19 | n/a |
| Communication and Media Studies | 18 | n/a |
| English Language and Literature, General | 16 | n/a |
Is Pitzer College safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Pitzer College disclosed 8 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 6.5 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 2 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Pitzer College?
About 80% of undergraduates at Pitzer College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
Next steps for Pitzer College
Common questions parents ask about Pitzer College
What GPA do I need for Pitzer College?
52% of enrolled students at Pitzer College had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 3.95, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Pitzer College typically admit?
Pitzer College is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does Pitzer College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Pitzer College after grants and scholarships is $34,191 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $65,192. Budget against the net figure.
Is Pitzer College realistic for my child?
Pitzer College admits 27% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $34,191 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Pitzer College?
Pitzer College accepts about 27% of applicants out of roughly 3,683 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is Pitzer College test-optional?
Pitzer College is test-blind for Fall 2027 applicants: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them. That changes for the 2027-2028 cycle, when tests become optional.
What is the graduation rate at Pitzer College?
About 83% of students at Pitzer College graduate within six years, and 58% finish in four years. 90% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Pitzer College?
Pitzer College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 43%, compared with its overall rate of 27%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Pitzer College look for in applicants?
Pitzer College rates course rigor, GPA, the application essay and character and personal qualities as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Pitzer College a public or private school, and where is it located?
Pitzer College is a private nonprofit institution located in Claremont, California.
What are the most popular majors at Pitzer College?
The largest undergraduate majors at Pitzer College by annual graduates are Political Science and Government, Research and Experimental Psychology and Natural Resources Conservation and Research. The school awards about 168 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Pitzer College safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Pitzer College reported 8 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 6.5 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Pitzer College?
At Pitzer College, 80% of undergraduates live on campus, 0% of men are in fraternities, 0% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Pitzer College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers