About Pitzer College

Founded in 1963, Pitzer College. is a Private college. Located in California, which is a city setting in California, the campus itself is Suburban. The campus is home to 1,062 full time undergraduate students, and 0 full time graduate students.

The Pitzer College Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 11:1. There are 93 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Pitzer College include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate13%
Application Deadline15-Nov
Application Fee70
SAT Range
ACT Range

Admissions at are considered Most Selective, with ,16% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 6 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

0% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 0% were in the top quarter, and 59% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Pitzer College.

Pitzer College REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    22 Students rated on-campus housing 4.3 stars. 36 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    10 Students rated off-campus housing 4.1 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    24 Students rated campus food 4.6 stars. 79 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    24 Students rated campus facilities 4.5 stars. 46 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    24 Students rated class size 4.8 stars. 88 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    24 Students rated school activities 4.6 stars. 67 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    24 Students rated local services 4.2 stars. 38 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    24 Students rated academics 4.4 stars. 67 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of Pitzer College?

12 Students rated Pitzer College

Claire - 12/17/2020

General culture is wealthy pot-smoking surfer. I transferred out and have never been happier.

Holly - 12/11/2020

Claremont Colleges are amazing, however the Pitzer hippie drug vibe was really a bummer during my time at the school. Kids are either super wealthy and full pay (often not as academically gifted as the others) or first-gen very high-achieving and intelligent. The dichotomy is tough from a social perspective. The full-pay students are often spoiled and not as hard working and skate by, often smoking a lot of pot. The tuition is also so high...prepare to go into major debt. Professors are amazing but the social experience was challenging - the student body is not cohesive and the drug culture is way too extreme.

Molly

My experience at Pitzer College is comparable to a surf-camp resort combined with constant intellectual stimulation. There is absolutely nothing I would change about it. With access to the resources of the entire Claremont Colleges consortium, the Los Angeles metropolitan area, and all of Southern California's abundance of nature, the learning experience extends far beyond the classroom. It's a college paradise.

Loren

I am an alumnus of Pitzer College and majored in music at the Pomona College Music Department. Pitzer was a great choice for me, the professors were great and they made it a point to make their classes stimulating. Of course being a student at one of the best liberal arts colleges in the United States is demanding, the professors know that the students are at a very high level and will work you hard, but it's so rewarding to be challenged! I found being surrounded by other students who were just as bright (and usually smarter) than me was great...we really had fun in study groups...everybody in the groups were so supportive, it wasn't like other schools where you're fighting against other students...everyone wants the other person to do just as well as he/she does! Pitzer was a great choice and now that I graduated I am absolutely sure that the fact I went to Pitzer, one of the Claremont Colleges, gave me a leg up on getting a high-paying job quicker than most!

Pitzer College FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Pitzer College?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Pitzer College is 13%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    If I were given the opportunity to go back in time and talk to my high school self I would tell her that even though college seems scary, you will succeed. Now is the perfect time to welcome change into your life, and you should do so with an open heart. Leaving your mom, who is also your best friend, is going to be hard but in the end you will be best friends for the rest of your life and no matter how far apart you are from each other that bond will never be broken. Choose the college of your dreams and jump in head first, because college is the best time of your life. Every opportunity is a blessing and going to the college of your dreams is the best thing that has happened to your life in a long time.

    Read all  19 answers
  3. What are the academics like at your school?

    Interesting topic. The best thing about the Claremont Colleges is that you can take classes at any of the five colleges. Taking advantage of this I take the majority of my classes at Pomona and as a Sophmore now, I have only taken two classes at Pitzer and one was the required Freshman seminar. Pitzer academics are really 50/50. The teacher is either really smart and engaging or totally a waste of time. Pitzer also rarely offers Philosophy classes, and the major is actually in cooperation with Pomona.

    Read all  15 answers
  4. Describe the students at your school.

    Determined, friendly, and enthusiastic.

    Read all  13 answers
  5. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    A stereotype about Pitzer is that it is a school where people are lazy and smoke all the time. When arriving and searching out Pitzer, it becomes very clear that are some amazing student organized and run groups that put together some pretty large projects at the college. Some examples are the student garden, several music festivals, the student cafe, and human rights and environmental clubs. Pitzer students know how to have a good time, how to really connect inside a community and how to organize and get something done. If you want to do something big or be part of something big, it is very possible.

    Read all  13 answers
  6. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    The people. The people are all interesting and sincere. It is not hard to find a fun group to hang out in and everyone is friendly. These are the types of people that you will be friends with for the rest of your life.

    Read all  12 answers
  7. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    For a very small percentage of people, yes. For the other 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} no!

    Read all  12 answers
  8. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    There are parties all the time. Themed and everything. Basically if you want to go out, there is a choice of options. And its also can be a good way to meet people from the other 4 colleges.

    Read all  10 answers
  9. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    Pitzer is a small school, which means that most of the student body knows one another and it is inevitable for students to establish some sort of relationship with their professors. Pitzer does not only feel like a college campus, but it also feels like a tight-nit community in which everyone is willing to help one another. Although it was only established in 1963, Pitzer has made a name of itself in just 50 years. The campus on its own transmits positive energy and provides a friendly atmosphere for everyone. It is a warm enviornment overall.

    Read all  7 answers
  10. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Pitzer College is a diverse community of young enthusiastic (mostly liberal) leaders who are politically, socially, and environmentally active - a collage of hippies and hipsters, with a small splash of bros and jocks.

    Read all  6 answers
  11. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    Everything I have experienced at Pitzer College is positive!

    Read all  5 answers
  12. What's unique about your campus?

    Students explain how the elusive "vibe" managed to bring them to Pitzer

    Read all  5 answers
  13. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    The Media Studies program is is merely a bachelor's in home-video production, with little practical application to film. Most of the students come from upper-middle class backgrounds with limited exposure outside of their demographic. Faculty and students have a liberal mindset, but not a very flexible mindset.

    Read all  5 answers
  14. Tell us about your professors.

    Meet Phil, a notable professor at Pitzer College. An author, scholar, advisor, and generally someone to look forward to should you come to Pitzer.

    Read all  4 answers
  15. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    Politically conservative; uninterested in other cultures, travel, and community projects

    Read all  4 answers
  16. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    Close relationships with professors! I've eaten dinner at every single one of my professor's houses and even babysat some of their kids!

    Read all  3 answers
  17. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    Honestly there is not one thing that I would change about Pitzer. Every encounter I've had with a professor, staff worker or student has been pleasant. Attending Pitzer was the best decision I have ever made and I cannot think of one thing that I do not like about it.

    Read all  3 answers
  18. What kind of person should attend this school?

    Liberal, environmentally and "Earth" focused. Students with interest in psychology, English, and other humanities. Students who were rejected from another Claremont College, but still want to study in Claremont.

    Read all  2 answers
  19. Tell us about the sports scene on campus.

    Two sophomores (basketball/cross-country, baseball) and a senior offer their thoughts and opinions concerning the life of a Pitzer athlete

    Read all  2 answers
  20. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    Pitzer is best known for being a bunch of hippies, but that's not necessarily true. We were built in the 60's and there have been many hold-over stereotypes from that era. However, we do believe in social responsibility and we do like to reduce our impact on the environment (both of which have been twisted to make us look like hippies.) We're also known for our non-traditional Educational Objective system (take a look, it's the best)! And, lastly, two major music festivals: Reggaefest and Kohoutek.

    Read all  2 answers
  21. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    I think that the stereotypical Pitzer student is a pot-smoking, passionate-about-the-earth, Environmental Analysis major who couldn't get into Pomona, especially to an outsider (or one of the students from a different 5C who never leaves their campus). This couldn't be further from the truth, and my experiences as a student here. Of all those characteristics, Pitzer students only universally share one: passion. Pitzer, in my experience, has not only been a tamer party scene than CMC or Harvey Mudd or Pomona, it has been a rich and rigorous academic experience, with intelligent and thoughtful classmates. Mostly, Pitzer students are diverse, in experiences and talents. I feel like every one of the people I know here could teach me something new and interesting.

    Read all  2 answers

Student Body

Students

55%

female

45%

male

1,062

Total Undergrad Enrollment

N/A

Total Grad Students

50%

Out-Of-State

38%

In-State

12%

International

Organizations

68

Student Organizations

N/A

Fraternities

N/A

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

77%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
9%
% Black or African-American
5%
% Hispanic/Latino
15%
% White or Caucasian
46%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

45% of students attending Pitzer College receive some sort of financial aid. 13% were awarded federal grants. While 36% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$50,430

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,000

Books and Supplies

$15,762

Room and Board

67,192

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$11,553
$30 - $48K
$11,849
$48 - $75K
$14,904
$75 - $110K
$26,027
$110K & UP
$41,949

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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