Pitzer vs. Messenger College

Comparable Facts

Compare Pitzer College in Claremont, CA with Messenger College in Bedford, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pitzer College is larger than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (1,242 students vs. 24 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pitzer College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Messenger College is in Bedford, TX (Small City setting).
• Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Messenger College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pitzer College 10:1; Messenger College 8:1.

Pitzer vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer or Messenger 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 Messenger College than Pitzer ($25,941 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messenger College are 39.9% lower than at Pitzer College ($13,305 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 461% more expensive for in-state tuition than Messenger College (about $53,572 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $11,620.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 461% higher at Pitzer than at Messenger College (about $53,572 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $11,620.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Messenger College than at Pitzer College (88% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 1,206.8% larger than aid received by Messenger College students ($51,487 vs. $3,940).

Pitzer vs. Messenger College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; Messenger College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027; Messenger College Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 1.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Messenger College (2.9).
• Messenger College has a higher acceptance rate (37.5%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 66.7% at Messenger College.

Pitzer vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer and Messenger 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 Messenger College's (10%).
• Graduates from Pitzer College earn a median of about $25,600 more per year than Messenger College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $24,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messenger College students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 40%)

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.