Pitzer College
Claremont, California · Private Nonprofit · 25.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 74/100 · Fair Value
Pitzer College earns a Fair Value tier with an ROI score of 74 out of 100, the strongest score on this batch and reflective of its position as a member of the Claremont Colleges consortium. The Claremont, California liberal arts college posts a $65,192 sticker tuition with a $34,191 net price after aid, putting four-year cost-of-attendance at $136,764. The dominant strengths on the score sheet are an excellent 83.4% completion rate and an 87.4% three-year repayment rate, both signals of an academically prepared and financially supported student body. Median 6-year earnings of $37,300 are modest because Pitzer graduates often pursue graduate school or social-impact careers, but 10-year earnings nearly double to $69,512, indicating strong eventual outcomes. Median debt is just $16,750, producing a 0.449 debt-to-earnings ratio and an 8-year payback period. The earnings premium subscore of 55 is the lowest sub-score, reflecting that Pitzer's progressive liberal arts curriculum doesn't push graduates into the highest-paying first jobs, but the long-term outcomes catch up.
Pitzer College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $65,192/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $65,192/yr |
| Average net price | $34,191/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $136,764 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $69,512 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $16,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $178 |
| Estimated payback period | 8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 83.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,227 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Pitzer College is $65,192/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $34,191/year, or roughly $136,764 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $14,535/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $46,793/year.
The median graduate leaves with $16,750 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $178 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $69,512 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.45 - well within manageable territory.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $14,535 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,769 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,846 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,452 |
| $110,001+ | $46,793 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30K pay $14,535 net annually, while $30,001-48,000 households pay materially less at just $7,769. That four-year burden of $31K-$58K is genuinely accessible at this caliber of institution, reflecting Pitzer's strong need-based aid commitment. Pell-eligible students should evaluate Pitzer aggressively against UC system options at this price point.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $20,846 to $29,452 net annually, putting four-year costs near $83K-$118K. The progression is steep here as institutional aid drops off, and this bracket should run the calculator carefully. The math works for graduate-school-bound students but tightens versus UC Berkeley or UCLA in-state alternatives.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110K pay $46,793 net annually, or $187K over four years. At this price point Pitzer competes directly with Pomona, Williams, and other elite liberal arts colleges. The case rests on the consortium experience, progressive curriculum, and strong graduate-school placement; the financial math alone is hard to justify versus public flagship alternatives.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Pitzer College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation | $21,570 | D |
| International Relations | $68,831 | - |
| Human Resources Management | $89,636 | - |
| Economics | $59,767 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Natural Resources Conservation
Natural Resources Conservation is Pitzer's signature environmental program with 36 graduates per year, the largest cohort reported. First-year median earnings of just $21,570 are quite low against $17,750 median debt, producing a 0.823 debt-to-earnings ratio and D ROI grade in the immediate post-graduation window. Pitzer's environmental-analysis program is highly regarded academically and many graduates enter conservation, environmental law, or graduate research, making the early-career data misleading for committed students.
International Relations
International Relations has 31 graduates per year with a four-year median earnings of $68,831. First-year earnings, debt, and ROI grade are not reported. The four-year earnings figure is competitive with peer SLAC IR programs and reflects placement into government, NGO, and consulting roles. Pitzer's interdisciplinary approach to IR (combining language, area studies, and policy) is a genuine differentiator for students considering State Department or international NGO careers.
Human Resources Management
Human Resources Management has 25 graduates per year with a strong four-year median earnings of $89,636. First-year earnings, debt, and ROI grade are not reported. The four-year figure is quite high for a small SLAC HR cohort and likely reflects placement into corporate HR roles in the Los Angeles labor market combined with the Claremont consortium's strong recruiting pipeline.
Economics
Economics has 19 graduates per year with first-year median earnings of $59,767. Four-year earnings, debt, and ROI grade are not reported. The first-year figure is consistent with SLAC economics outcomes and reflects placement into financial services, consulting, and graduate economics PhD pipelines. The Claremont consortium provides strong cross-registration access to Claremont McKenna's quantitative economics offerings.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 84.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 78.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 25.2% |
| Enrollment | 1,227 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 10.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,503 |
Pitzer admits 25.2% of applicants, classifying as highly selective. SAT and ACT scores are not reported in current Scorecard data, consistent with Pitzer's test-blind admissions policy adopted in 2020. The 83.4% completion rate is excellent and reflects both rigorous selectivity and the strong support infrastructure of the Claremont Colleges consortium, where students share resources across Pitzer, Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, and Scripps.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among Pitzer's peer set, Bryn Mawr College is the strongest direct peer as a similarly selective progressive liberal arts college with comparable outcomes. The other peers (Art Center College of Design, Azusa Pacific, Walla Walla, AdventHealth) are pulled in by enrollment scale or California geography but bear little resemblance to Pitzer's actual operating model and outcomes. Pitzer's true peers are the other Claremont consortium members and Northeastern liberal arts colleges; its 74 ROI score is competitive with that genuine peer set, though the modest first-six-year earnings drag the score below the consortium's elite residential-college median.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitzer College (this school) | 74 | $34,191 | $69,512 |
| Bryn Mawr College | 74 | $31,759 | $75,217 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| Walla Walla University | 62 | $23,329 | $61,885 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
Who Thrives Here
Pitzer fits academically prepared students drawn to a progressive interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum focused on social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and intercultural understanding. With just 1,227 enrolled and a 10.6% Pell rate (the lowest on this batch), the student body skews substantially upper-middle-class. Best fit for students planning graduate school in the social sciences, public policy, or international relations, or pursuing careers in nonprofit and impact-oriented sectors. The Claremont Colleges consortium provides STEM access via Harvey Mudd cross-registration for students whose interests broaden.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Pitzer College offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $34,191 per year leads to $136,764 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $69,512 a decade out. The payback period of 8 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
The data highlights several strengths: a 83.4% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $16,750 is very manageable against $69,512 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.