Pitzer College
#3 Best Colleges for Building Social Capital- Graduation Rate
- 83% A-
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $69,512 A
- Top 8% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $34,191 F
- 100% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 25% A
- Admits roughly 25% — highly selective
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.2 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Colleges for Building Social Capital.
Every $1 spent returns $15.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,939,501.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 70% more than the national college median.
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A 83% graduation rate — 46% above the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.21% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Pitzer College Matters
Pitzer College is a private liberal arts college in Claremont, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by selective admissions, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 8% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,227
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical, Communications
Why students choose Pitzer College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 25% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $34,191 a year after grants and scholarships — 100% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $69,512 ten years after enrolling — 70% above the typical college, against $16,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 23% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.89 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Eighty-three percent of students graduate from Pitzer College, a strong indicator of student success. With an acceptance rate of just 25%, this private nonprofit school in Claremont, California, attracts a selective group of students who are committed to their education and future careers.
Pitzer College’s graduates earn a median salary of $69,512 a decade after graduation. Although mobility and economic connectedness data isn't available, the figures suggest that students who attend may find solid job opportunities in fields like social sciences, psychology, and business. The low Pell Grant rate of 11% indicates that most students come from higher-income backgrounds, which can influence the college experience and networking opportunities.
The net price for attending Pitzer is $34,191, and graduates carry a median debt of $16,750. This relatively low debt level compared to earnings indicates a favorable return on investment. Students who thrive here are likely those who are self-motivated, engaged in the community, and interested in a liberal arts education that emphasizes critical thinking and social responsibility.
Rankings
- #3 Best Colleges for Building Social Capital
- #5 Best Psychology Colleges in California
- #8 Highest-Paying Colleges for Psychology
- #10 Best Communications Colleges in California
- #17 Best Colleges in California
- #18 Best Biology Colleges in California
- #20 Best Bachelor's Programs in California
- #20 Best Master's Programs in California
Can I Get In?
How selective Pitzer College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Pitzer College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Claremont, California, Pitzer College reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 25%. The graduation rate is roughly 83%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 25%
- Retention Rate
- 94%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 80%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,503
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.73
- First-Gen Students
- 23%
- Applicants
- 3,500
- Admitted
- 644
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Pitzer College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Pitzer College is $65,192, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $34,191. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,535 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $65,192
- Out-of-State
- $65,192
- Avg Net Price
- $34,191
- Median Debt
- $16,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 11%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 20%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $14,535
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,769
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $20,846
- Family Income $110K+
- $46,793
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Pitzer College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Pitzer College earn a median of $69,512, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $51,784
- 8 Years
- $55,766
- 10 Years
- $69,512
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.24x
- Earning > $25K
- 61%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (202)
- 75%
- 100% (202)
- 75%
- 100% (202)
- 75%
- 100% (202)
- 75%
How Pitzer Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Pitzer College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Pitzer College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $34,191/year ($136,764 total). Graduates earn $69,512 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,076,265 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,939,501 (15.2× your investment). The median debt is $16,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 83% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $136,764
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,076,265
- Net Return
- $1,939,501
- ROI Multiple
- 15.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $34,191
- Median Debt
- $16,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 83%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Pitzer College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Pitzer College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.21%, among the highest in the country. About 6.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $131,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.21%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 35.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $131,900
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,671,974
- Investment Income
- $-6,614,498
Top Programs
The fields Pitzer College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Social Sciences 25%
- Psychology 8%
- Biology & Biomedical 8%
- Communications 5%
- Business & Marketing 5%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Mathematics & Statistics 4%
- English & Literature 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Pitzer College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Pitzer College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Claremont, California, Pitzer College reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 25%. The graduation rate is roughly 83%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Pitzer College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Pitzer College is $65,192, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $34,191. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,535 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,750 in federal student loans.
Is Pitzer College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Pitzer College earn a median of $69,512, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Pitzer College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Pitzer College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.21%, among the highest in the country. About 6.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $131,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Pitzer College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Pitzer College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.89, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 22% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Pitzer College.
- Bryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr, PA · Close peer84% grad $75,217 earn 29% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Scripps CollegeClaremont, CA · Close peer85% grad $77,539 earn 38% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Reed CollegePortland, OR · Close peer74% grad $62,927 earn 25% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, NY · Close peer82% grad $69,363 earn 21% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Whitman CollegeWalla Walla, WA · Close peer81% grad $67,589 earn 38% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Franklin and Marshall CollegeLancaster, PA · Close peer85% grad $76,124 earn 28% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Pitzer College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Pitzer College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.89, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 22% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note