Pitzer vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare Pitzer College in Claremont, CA with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Merced is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pitzer College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pitzer College 10:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Pitzer vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer or UC Merced? 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 University of California Merced than Pitzer ($13,690 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Merced are 3.2% lower than at Pitzer College ($21,445 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 317.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $49,569 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.8% higher at Pitzer than at University of California Merced (about $15,369 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $49,823.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at Pitzer College (89% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 88.7% larger than aid received by University of California Merced students ($51,487 vs. $27,292).

Pitzer vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at UC Merced (3.55).
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Pitzer vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer and UC Merced? 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 University of California Merced's (58%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pitzer College graduates have a $4,004 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($15,895 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, Pitzer graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($164 vs. $205).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 64%)

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.