Pitzer vs. Alma College

Comparable Facts

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

Pitzer College is larger than Alma College based on total student enrollment (1,242 students vs. 1,197 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pitzer College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Alma College is in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting).
• Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pitzer College 10:1; Alma College 14:1.

Pitzer vs. Alma College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer or Alma College? 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 Alma College than Pitzer ($22,094 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alma College are 36% lower than at Pitzer College ($14,180 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 31.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Alma College (about $15,640 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $49,552.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.6% higher at Pitzer than at Alma College (about $15,640 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $49,552.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Alma College than at Pitzer College (100% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 23.7% larger than aid received by Alma College students ($51,487 vs. $41,618).

Pitzer vs. Alma College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pitzer or Alma College? 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 Alma College and Pitzer.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; Alma College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Alma College (3.5).
• Alma College has a higher acceptance rate (57%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 9.6% at Alma College.

Pitzer vs. Alma College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer and Alma College? 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 Alma College's (67%).
• Graduates from Pitzer College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than Alma College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $48,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pitzer College graduates have a $11,105 lower median loan debt than Alma College graduates ($15,895 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Pitzer graduates have an estimated $115 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Alma College graduates ($164 vs. $279).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alma College students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 77%)

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.