Pitzer vs. San Francisco State

Comparable Facts

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

San Francisco State University is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (22,563 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pitzer College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Francisco State University is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. San Francisco State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pitzer College 10:1; San Francisco State University 19:1.

Pitzer vs. San Francisco State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer or San Francisco State? 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 San Francisco State University than Pitzer ($13,168 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pitzer College are 0.5% lower than at San Francisco State University ($22,150 vs. $22,266).
• Pitzer College is 720% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Francisco State (about $57,242 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $7,950.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 217.2% higher at Pitzer than at San Francisco State University (about $44,642 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $20,550.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Francisco State University than at Pitzer College (77% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 296.2% larger than aid received by San Francisco State University students ($51,487 vs. $12,996).

Pitzer vs. San Francisco State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pitzer or San Francisco State? 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 San Francisco State and Pitzer.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSan Francisco State University 930/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSan Francisco State University 16/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; San Francisco State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027; San Francisco State Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 0.62 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at San Francisco State (3.31).
• San Francisco State has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 8.6% at San Francisco State.

Pitzer vs. San Francisco State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer and San Francisco State? 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 San Francisco State University's (46%).
• Graduates from San Francisco State University earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than Pitzer graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,600 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pitzer College graduates have a $1,355 lower median loan debt than San Francisco State graduates ($15,895 vs. $17,250).
• Among borrowers, Pitzer graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than San Francisco State graduates ($164 vs. $178).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Francisco State students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 63%)

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.