Pitzer vs. CCS

Deciding between Pitzer College and College for Creative Studies? 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
College for Creative Studies

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Pitzer Claremont, CA
  • CCS Detroit, MI
  • Setting
  • Pitzer Large Suburban
  • CCS Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Pitzer 1,242
  • CCS 1,433
  • Type
  • Pitzer Private 4 Year
  • CCS Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Pitzer
  • CCS
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Pitzer -
  • CCS -
  • Status
  • Pitzer Non-profit
  • CCS Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Pitzer
  • CCS
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Pitzer $65,192
  • CCS $53,350
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Pitzer $65,192
  • CCS $53,350
  • Room & Board
  • Pitzer $22,150
  • CCS $15,272
  • Average Net Price
  • Pitzer $34,979
  • CCS $36,055
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Pitzer $51,487
  • CCS $30,108
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Pitzer 39%
  • CCS 98%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Pitzer 3,438
  • CCS 1,079
  • Admitted
  • Pitzer 865
  • CCS 992
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Pitzer 25.2%
  • CCS 91.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Pitzer 35.8%
  • CCS 24.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pitzer
  • CCS
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pitzer
  • CCS
  • Average High School GPA
  • Pitzer 3.93
  • CCS 3.19
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Pitzer A
  • CCS B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Pitzer Unavailable
  • CCS Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Pitzer High
  • CCS
  • ACT Range
  • Pitzer
  • CCS
  • SAT Range
  • Pitzer
  • CCS
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Pitzer Test-free
  • CCS Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Pitzer Jan 1, 2027
  • CCS
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Pitzer 10:1
  • CCS 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Pitzer
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • General Studies (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • CCS
    • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
    • Communications Technology (13%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Pitzer 81%
  • CCS 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Pitzer $49,600
  • CCS $46,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Pitzer 81%
  • CCS 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Pitzer $15,895
  • CCS $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Pitzer $164
  • CCS $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Pitzer 41%
  • CCS 34%
  • % Women
  • Pitzer 59%
  • CCS 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Pitzer High
  • CCS Medium
  • HBCU
  • Pitzer No
  • CCS No
  • % White
  • Pitzer 48%
  • CCS 58%
  • % Asian
  • Pitzer 9%
  • CCS 4%
  • % Black
  • Pitzer 5%
  • CCS 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Pitzer 15%
  • CCS 4%
  • % Native American
  • Pitzer 0%
  • CCS 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Pitzer 0%
  • CCS 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Pitzer 9%
  • CCS 4%
  • % International
  • Pitzer 7%
  • CCS 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Pitzer 6%
  • CCS 11%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Pitzer 44%
  • CCS 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Pitzer 46%
  • CCS 19%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

College for Creative Studies is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (1,433 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Pitzer vs. CCS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer or CCS? 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 Pitzer College than CCS ($34,979 vs. $36,055).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College for Creative Studies are 31.1% lower than at Pitzer College ($15,272 vs. $22,150).
  • Pitzer College is 22.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CCS (about $11,842 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $53,350.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.2% higher at Pitzer than at College for Creative Studies (about $11,842 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $53,350.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College for Creative Studies than at Pitzer College (98% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 71% larger than aid received by College for Creative Studies students ($51,487 vs. $30,108).

Pitzer vs. CCS Admissions comparison

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

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; CCS - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 0.74 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at CCS (3.19).
  • CCS has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 24.9% at CCS.

Pitzer vs. CCS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer and CCS? 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 College for Creative Studies's (57%).
  • Graduates from Pitzer College earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than CCS graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $46,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pitzer College graduates have a $11,105 lower median loan debt than CCS graduates ($15,895 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Pitzer graduates have an estimated $115 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CCS graduates ($164 vs. $279).
  • More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CCS students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 60%)

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.