Pitzer vs. San Jose State

Comparable Facts

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

San Jose State University is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (37,661 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pitzer College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Jose State University is in San Jose, CA (Large City setting).
• Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. San Jose State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pitzer College 10:1; San Jose State University 25:1.

Pitzer vs. San Jose State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer or San Jose 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 Jose State University than Pitzer ($13,892 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Jose State University are 5.3% lower than at Pitzer College ($20,971 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 675.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Jose State (about $56,782 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $8,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 210.3% higher at Pitzer than at San Jose State University (about $44,182 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $21,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Jose State University than at Pitzer College (63% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 316.8% larger than aid received by San Jose State University students ($51,487 vs. $12,353).

Pitzer vs. San Jose State Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSan Jose State University 1010/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSan Jose State University 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; San Jose State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027; San Jose State Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at San Jose State (3.35).
• San Jose State has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 14.7% at San Jose State.

Pitzer vs. San Jose State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer and San Jose 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 Jose State University's (46%).
• Graduates from San Jose State University earn a median of about $10,300 more per year than Pitzer graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,900 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Jose State University graduates have a $895 lower median loan debt than Pitzer graduates ($15,000 vs. $15,895).
• Among borrowers, San Jose State graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitzer graduates ($155 vs. $164).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Jose State students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 73%)

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.