CSU vs. Pitzer

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Chico in Chico, CA with Pitzer College in Claremont, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Chico is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); Pitzer College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; Pitzer College 10:1.

CSU vs. Pitzer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU 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 California State University Chico than Pitzer ($14,630 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 25.5% lower than at Pitzer College ($16,500 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 669.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $56,720 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $8,472.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 209.4% higher at Pitzer than at California State University Chico (about $44,120 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $21,072.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Chico than at Pitzer College (66% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 347.4% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($51,487 vs. $11,509).

CSU vs. Pitzer Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU 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 CSU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 970/1170.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; Pitzer - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; Pitzer Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at CSU (3.37).
• CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 35.8% at Pitzer.

CSU vs. Pitzer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU 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 State University Chico's (59%).
• Graduates from California State University Chico earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than Pitzer graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,400 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pitzer College graduates have a $1,105 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($15,895 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, Pitzer graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($164 vs. $175).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 70%)

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.