Pitzer vs. CSU Channel Islands

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Channel Islands is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (5,592 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pitzer College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); California State University Channel Islands is in Camarillo, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Channel Islands is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pitzer College 10:1; California State University Channel Islands 16:1.

Pitzer vs. CSU Channel Islands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer or CSU Channel Islands? 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 Channel Islands than Pitzer ($10,632 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Channel Islands are 30.1% lower than at Pitzer College ($15,490 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 810.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU Channel Islands (about $58,033 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $7,159.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 229.9% higher at Pitzer than at California State University Channel Islands (about $45,433 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $19,759.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Channel Islands than at Pitzer College (79% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 311% larger than aid received by California State University Channel Islands students ($51,487 vs. $12,528).

Pitzer vs. CSU Channel Islands Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pitzer or CSU Channel Islands? 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 CSU Channel Islands and Pitzer.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; CSU Channel Islands - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027; CSU Channel Islands Jul 30, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 0.71 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at CSU Channel Islands (3.22).
• CSU Channel Islands has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 6.2% at CSU Channel Islands.

Pitzer vs. CSU Channel Islands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer and CSU Channel Islands? 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 Channel Islands's (54%).
• Graduates from Pitzer College earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than CSU Channel Islands graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $46,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Channel Islands graduates have a $712 lower median loan debt than Pitzer graduates ($15,183 vs. $15,895).
• Among borrowers, CSU Channel Islands graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitzer graduates ($156 vs. $164).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Channel Islands students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 66%)

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.