Pitzer vs. Centra College

Comparable Facts

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

Pitzer College is larger than Centra College based on total student enrollment (1,242 students vs. 219 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pitzer College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Centra College is in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting).
• Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Centra College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pitzer College 10:1; Centra College 3:1.

Pitzer vs. Centra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer or Centra College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centra College are 43.9% lower than at Pitzer College ($12,424 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 402.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Centra College (about $52,209 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 402.1% higher at Pitzer than at Centra College (about $52,209 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pitzer College than at Centra College (39% vs. 0%).

Pitzer vs. Centra College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; Centra College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027.
• Centra College has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 0% at Centra College.

Pitzer vs. Centra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer and Centra 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).

• Graduates from Pitzer College earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than Centra College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Centra College graduates have a $3,853 lower median loan debt than Pitzer graduates ($12,042 vs. $15,895).
• Among borrowers, Centra College graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitzer graduates ($124 vs. $164).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Centra College 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.