Pitzer vs. CSUMB

Deciding between Pitzer College and California State University Monterey Bay? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Pitzer College
California State University Monterey Bay

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Pitzer Claremont, CA
  • CSUMB Seaside, CA
  • Setting
  • Pitzer Large Suburban
  • CSUMB Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Pitzer 1,242
  • CSUMB 7,713
  • Type
  • Pitzer Private 4 Year
  • CSUMB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Pitzer
  • CSUMB #867
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Pitzer -
  • CSUMB -
  • Status
  • Pitzer Non-profit
  • CSUMB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Pitzer
  • CSUMB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Pitzer $65,192
  • CSUMB $7,779
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Pitzer $65,192
  • CSUMB $20,379
  • Room & Board
  • Pitzer $22,150
  • CSUMB $17,234
  • Average Net Price
  • Pitzer $34,979
  • CSUMB $14,493
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Pitzer $51,487
  • CSUMB $12,185
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Pitzer 39%
  • CSUMB 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Pitzer 3,438
  • CSUMB 14,933
  • Admitted
  • Pitzer 865
  • CSUMB 14,545
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Pitzer 25.2%
  • CSUMB 97.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Pitzer 35.8%
  • CSUMB 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pitzer
  • CSUMB 1060
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pitzer
  • CSUMB 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • Pitzer 3.93
  • CSUMB 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Pitzer A
  • CSUMB B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Pitzer Unavailable
  • CSUMB Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Pitzer High
  • CSUMB
  • ACT Range
  • Pitzer
  • CSUMB 17/23
  • SAT Range
  • Pitzer
  • CSUMB 960/1160
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Pitzer Test-free
  • CSUMB Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Pitzer Jan 1, 2027
  • CSUMB Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Pitzer 10:1
  • CSUMB 24:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Pitzer
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • General Studies (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • CSUMB
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Pitzer 81%
  • CSUMB 38%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Pitzer $49,600
  • CSUMB $45,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Pitzer 81%
  • CSUMB 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Pitzer $15,895
  • CSUMB $14,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Pitzer $164
  • CSUMB $144

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Pitzer 41%
  • CSUMB 39%
  • % Women
  • Pitzer 59%
  • CSUMB 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Pitzer High
  • CSUMB High
  • HBCU
  • Pitzer No
  • CSUMB No
  • % White
  • Pitzer 48%
  • CSUMB 31%
  • % Asian
  • Pitzer 9%
  • CSUMB 5%
  • % Black
  • Pitzer 5%
  • CSUMB 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Pitzer 15%
  • CSUMB 43%
  • % Native American
  • Pitzer 0%
  • CSUMB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Pitzer 0%
  • CSUMB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Pitzer 9%
  • CSUMB 7%
  • % International
  • Pitzer 7%
  • CSUMB 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Pitzer 6%
  • CSUMB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Pitzer 44%
  • CSUMB 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Pitzer 46%
  • CSUMB 4%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Pitzer Yes
  • CSUMB Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Pitzer No
  • CSUMB No
  • Meal Plan
  • Pitzer Yes
  • CSUMB Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Pitzer No
  • CSUMB No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Pitzer No
  • CSUMB Yes

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Monterey Bay is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (7,713 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 Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Monterey Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Pitzer College 10:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

Pitzer vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer or CSUMB? 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 Monterey Bay than Pitzer ($14,493 vs. $34,979).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Monterey Bay are 22.2% lower than at Pitzer College ($17,234 vs. $22,150).
  • Pitzer College is 738.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUMB (about $57,413 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $7,779.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 219.9% higher at Pitzer than at California State University Monterey Bay (about $44,813 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $20,379.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Monterey Bay than at Pitzer College (71% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 322.5% larger than aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students ($51,487 vs. $12,185).

Pitzer vs. CSUMB Admissions comparison

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

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Monterey Bay 960/1160.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Monterey Bay 17/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; CSUMB - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027; CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at CSUMB (3.45).
  • CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 9.8% at CSUMB.

Pitzer vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer and CSUMB? 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 Monterey Bay's (38%).
  • Graduates from Pitzer College earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than CSUMB graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Monterey Bay graduates have a $1,895 lower median loan debt than Pitzer graduates ($14,000 vs. $15,895).
  • Among borrowers, CSUMB graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitzer graduates ($144 vs. $164).
  • More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUMB 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.