Claremont McKenna vs. Pitzer

Comparable Facts

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

Claremont McKenna College is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (1,393 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Claremont McKenna College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Pitzer College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Claremont McKenna College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Claremont McKenna College 8:1; Pitzer College 10:1.

Claremont McKenna vs. Pitzer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Claremont McKenna 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 Claremont McKenna College than Pitzer ($33,895 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Claremont McKenna College are 6% lower than at Pitzer College ($20,830 vs. $22,150).
• Claremont McKenna College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pitzer (about $2,788 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $65,192.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at Claremont McKenna than at Pitzer College (about $2,788 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $65,192.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Claremont McKenna College than at Pitzer College (43% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Claremont McKenna College students is 2.2% larger than aid received by Pitzer College students ($52,605 vs. $51,487).

Claremont McKenna vs. Pitzer Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Claremont McKenna 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 Claremont McKenna.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Claremont McKenna College 1470/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Claremont McKenna College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Claremont McKenna - Test optional; Pitzer - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027; Pitzer Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Claremont McKenna (3.89).
• Pitzer has a higher acceptance rate (25.2%) than Claremont McKenna (9.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Claremont McKenna vs. 35.8% at Pitzer.

Claremont McKenna vs. Pitzer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Claremont McKenna 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).

• Claremont McKenna College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Pitzer College's (81%).
• Graduates from Claremont McKenna College earn a median of about $48,200 more per year than Pitzer graduates about ten years after starting college ($97,800 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Claremont McKenna College graduates have a $928 lower median loan debt than Pitzer graduates ($14,967 vs. $15,895).
• Among borrowers, Claremont McKenna graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitzer graduates ($154 vs. $164).

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.