Pitzer vs. BU

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Pitzer vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer or BU? 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 Boston University than Pitzer ($24,420 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 14.1% lower than at Pitzer College ($19,020 vs. $22,150).
• Boston University is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pitzer (about $2,910 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,192.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.5% higher at BU than at Pitzer College (about $2,910 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,192.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Boston University than at Pitzer College (49% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 20.1% larger than aid received by Pitzer College students ($61,848 vs. $51,487).

Pitzer vs. BU Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBoston University 1420/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBoston University 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; BU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027; BU Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at BU (3.79).
• Pitzer has a higher acceptance rate (25.2%) than BU (11.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 37.4% at BU.

Pitzer vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer and BU? 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).

• Boston University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Pitzer College's (81%).
• Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $22,400 more per year than Pitzer graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pitzer College graduates have a $11,105 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($15,895 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Pitzer graduates have an estimated $115 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($164 vs. $279).
• More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitzer students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 81%)

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.