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Summary
Pitzer College is a private institution that was founded in 1963. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,099, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 31 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Pitzer College's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 43. Its tuition and fees are $43,402 (2012-13).
Students at Pitzer attend a small liberal arts college with the breadth and resources of five undergraduate institutions. Pitzer is in the network of Claremont Colleges, along with undergraduate schools Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, Pomona College, and Scripps College. Students can major in an academic program at any of the five institutions, or can design a major at Pitzer. All campuses are within walking distance of each other in Claremont, Calif., and Pitzer students can take up to half their courses at other schools. If a student doesn’t feel like walking, they can take a free bicycle through Pitzer’s Green Bike Program. The campuses’ close proximities are ideal for Pitzer student athletes, who team up with peers at Pomona College for varsity sports. The Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens compete in the Division III Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, cheered on by mascot Cecil, a costumed blue bird. Unlike most institutions, Pitzer does not require students to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their application, as long as a student is in the top 10 percent of their high school class or has a 3.5 or greater GPA. There are more than 100 student clubs and organizations, but there is no Greek system. All full-time students must live on campus, unless they have received school permission to move off. With so many institutions in Claremont, Pitzer students live among 5,000 students in the suburban area. Los Angeles is 35 miles away, and students with cars can get to Santa Monica Beach, the Mojave Desert, and Hollywood in an hour.
Close to three-quarters of students study abroad, often through Pitzer’s specialty programs, like a semester in Costa Rica at the school’s Firestone Center for Restoration Ecology. Students can also spend a semester in southern California, completing community-based internships in Ontario, Calif., and social research projects, and going on field trips—including a tour of United States border towns. Notable alumni include John Landgraf, president and general manager of FX Networks; Debra Yang, the first Asian-American U.S. Attorney; and Fabian Núñez, former speaker of the California Assembly.
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Pitzer College produces engaged, socially responsible citizens of the world through an academically rigorous, interdisciplinary liberal arts education emphasizing social justice, intercultural understanding and environmental sensitivity. The meaningful participation of students, faculty and staff in college governance and academic program design is a Pitzer core value. Our community thrives within the mutually supportive framework of The Claremont Colleges which provide an unsurpassed breadth of academic, athletic and social opportunities. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1963 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | suburban |
| 2011 Endowment | $113,730,534 |
Applying
When applying to Pitzer College, it's important to note the application deadline is January 1, and the early decision deadline is November 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 1. The application fee at Pitzer College is $60. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 24.1 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 24.1% |
| Application deadline | January 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | January 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Pitzer College is 11:1, and the school has 68.6 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Pitzer College include: Psychology; Economics; Environmental Studies; Film/Cinema/Video Studies; and Political Science and Government. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 92.0 percent.
Student Life
Pitzer College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,099, with a gender distribution of 38.5 percent male students and 61.5 percent female students. At this school, 74.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 26.0 percent of students live off campus. Pitzer College is part of the NCAA III athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at Pitzer College.
| Total enrollment | 1,099 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA III |
Campus Info & Services
Pitzer College offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Pitzer College also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Pitzer College, 45 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Pitzer College.
| Students who have cars on campus | 45% |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Pitzer College, 39.9 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $33,775.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $43,402 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $13,864 (2012-13) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
