Pitzer vs. USD

Comparable Facts

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

University of San Diego is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pitzer College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pitzer College 10:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

Pitzer vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer or USD? 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 Pitzer College than USD ($34,979 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of San Diego are 10.1% lower than at Pitzer College ($19,918 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 9.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than USD (about $5,706 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $59,486.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.6% higher at Pitzer than at University of San Diego (about $5,706 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $59,486.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at Pitzer College (84% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 25.7% larger than aid received by University of San Diego students ($51,487 vs. $40,965).

Pitzer vs. USD Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027; USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Pitzer (3.93).
• USD has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 12.4% at USD.

Pitzer vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer and USD? 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 San Diego's (75%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $20,600 more per year than Pitzer graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pitzer College graduates have a $7,009 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($15,895 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, Pitzer graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($164 vs. $236).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 78%)

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.