Cal State LA vs. Pitzer

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Los Angeles is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (23,163 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Pitzer College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California State University Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 21:1; Pitzer College 10:1.

Cal State LA vs. Pitzer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State LA 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 Los Angeles than Pitzer ($4,460 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Los Angeles are 11.1% lower than at Pitzer College ($19,696 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 810.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State LA (about $58,032 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $7,160.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 229.9% higher at Pitzer than at California State University Los Angeles (about $45,432 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $19,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Los Angeles than at Pitzer College (94% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 272.4% larger than aid received by California State University Los Angeles students ($51,487 vs. $13,824).

Cal State LA vs. Pitzer Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State LA 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 Cal State LA.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Los Angeles 870/1060.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Los Angeles 15/20.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State LA - Test-free; Pitzer - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027; Pitzer Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 0.62 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Cal State LA (3.31).
• Cal State LA has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Cal State LA vs. 35.8% at Pitzer.

Cal State LA vs. Pitzer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State LA 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 Los Angeles's (36%).
• Graduates from Pitzer College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Cal State LA graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $46,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Los Angeles graduates have a $2,975 lower median loan debt than Pitzer graduates ($12,920 vs. $15,895).
• Among borrowers, Cal State LA graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitzer graduates ($133 vs. $164).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State LA students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 57%)

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.