CalArts vs. Pitzer

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Pitzer College in Claremont, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Pitzer College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Pitzer College 10:1.

CalArts vs. Pitzer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Pitzer? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pitzer College than CalArts ($34,979 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 36.2% lower than at Pitzer College ($14,134 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 10.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CalArts (about $6,196 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $58,996.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.5% higher at Pitzer than at California Institute of the Arts (about $6,196 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $58,996.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at Pitzer College (95% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 140.4% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($51,487 vs. $21,416).

CalArts vs. Pitzer Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Pitzer? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Pitzer and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Pitzer - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027; Pitzer Jan 1, 2027.
• CalArts has a higher acceptance rate (32.3%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 35.8% at Pitzer.

CalArts vs. Pitzer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Pitzer? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Pitzer College's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than California Institute of the Arts's (65%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $800 more per year than Pitzer graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pitzer College graduates have a $12,605 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($15,895 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Pitzer graduates have an estimated $130 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($164 vs. $294).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.