Pitzer vs. USW

Comparable Facts

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

Pitzer College is larger than USW based on total student enrollment (1,242 students vs. 1,130 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pitzer College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); University of the Southwest is in Hobbs, NM (Rural Fringe setting).
• Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of the Southwest is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pitzer College 10:1; University of the Southwest 21:1.

Pitzer vs. USW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer or USW? 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 the Southwest than Pitzer ($17,243 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the Southwest are 63.4% lower than at Pitzer College ($8,100 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 291.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than USW (about $48,522 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $16,670.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 291.1% higher at Pitzer than at University of the Southwest (about $48,522 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $16,670.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of the Southwest than at Pitzer College (99% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 393.4% larger than aid received by University of the Southwest students ($51,487 vs. $10,436).

Pitzer vs. USW Admissions comparison

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

• University of the Southwest reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; USW - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 1.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at USW (2.63).

Pitzer vs. USW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer and USW? 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 the Southwest's (18%).
• Graduates from Pitzer College earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than USW graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pitzer College graduates have a $7,605 lower median loan debt than USW graduates ($15,895 vs. $23,500).
• Among borrowers, Pitzer graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USW graduates ($164 vs. $242).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USW students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 47%)

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.