UCI vs. Pitzer

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Irvine is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (37,297 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Pitzer College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California Irvine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Irvine 19:1; Pitzer College 10:1.

UCI vs. Pitzer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI or Pitzer? 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 Irvine than Pitzer ($15,889 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Irvine are 14.3% lower than at Pitzer College ($18,991 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 314.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCI (about $49,470 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $15,722.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.6% higher at Pitzer than at University of California Irvine (about $15,270 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $49,922.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Irvine than at Pitzer College (55% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 122.8% larger than aid received by University of California Irvine students ($51,487 vs. $23,110).

UCI vs. Pitzer Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 1230/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; Pitzer - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026; Pitzer Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at UCI (3.75).
• UCI has a higher acceptance rate (28.6%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 35.8% at Pitzer.

UCI vs. Pitzer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI and Pitzer? 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).

• University of California Irvine's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Pitzer College's (81%).
• Graduates from University of California Irvine earn a median of about $12,200 more per year than Pitzer graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,800 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pitzer College graduates have a $1,105 lower median loan debt than UCI graduates ($15,895 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, Pitzer graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCI graduates ($164 vs. $175).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCI students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 76%)

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.