Pitzer vs. Hampshire College

Comparable Facts

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

Pitzer College is larger than Hampshire College based on total student enrollment (1,242 students vs. 844 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pitzer College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Hampshire College is in Amherst, MA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hampshire College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pitzer College 10:1; Hampshire College 13:1.

Pitzer vs. Hampshire College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer or Hampshire College? 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 Hampshire College than Pitzer ($27,895 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hampshire College are 28% lower than at Pitzer College ($15,958 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 10.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hampshire College (about $6,296 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $58,896.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.7% higher at Pitzer than at Hampshire College (about $6,296 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $58,896.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hampshire College than at Pitzer College (100% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 11.6% larger than aid received by Hampshire College students ($51,487 vs. $46,145).

Pitzer vs. Hampshire College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; Hampshire College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027; Hampshire College Jan 15, 2027.
• Hampshire College has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 14.4% at Hampshire College.

Pitzer vs. Hampshire College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer and Hampshire 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).

• Pitzer College's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Hampshire College's (61%).
• Graduates from Pitzer College earn a median of about $12,500 more per year than Hampshire College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pitzer College graduates have a $7,636 lower median loan debt than Hampshire College graduates ($15,895 vs. $23,531).
• Among borrowers, Pitzer graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hampshire College graduates ($164 vs. $243).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hampshire College students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 72%)

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.