Apply

We are excited that you are considering Pitzer! Did you know that Pitzer meets 100% need? Visit How Aid Works for more details. We encourage all students interested in receiving financial assistance to apply for aid. Once we receive your application materials, we will review your eligibility for all need-based programs.

International Applicants, Transfer Applicants, and New Resource Applicants should visit these pages with additional details specific to you.

Application Requirements

 

Application Type Requirements
Domestic Applicants • CSS Profile (custodial & noncustodial)
• FAFSA (available December 31)
• Copies of 2022 tax documents  – Parent(s)
• Copies of 2022 tax documents  – Student
DACA/Undocumented Applicants  • CSS Profile (custodial & noncustodial)
• Dream Act (for CA residents only)
• Copies of 2022 tax documents  – Parent(s)
• Copies of 2022 tax documents  – Student
International Applicants Pitzer International Financial Aid Application (PIFAA)

Application Deadlines

All financial aid documents are due by the following priority deadlines. Also visit Deadlines for more details and calendar of events.

Early Decision I November 15
Early Decision II January 5
Regular Decision January 5
Fall Transfer April 1
New Resource April 1
Spring Transfer October 10

Application Details

  • CSS Profile

    The CSS Profile application allows us to review your eligibility for Pitzer’s need-based scholarship. Apply using Pitzer’s CSS code 4619.

    Costs
    Unlike the FAFSA, the CSS Profile does have fees. Students pay $25 for the first school, plus $16 for each additional school. Pitzer does not offer CSS Profile fee waivers. However, the College Board automatically waives application fees if you are eligible. Visit their website for fee waiver details.

    Divorced/Separated Parents
    If your parents are divorced/separated, we will need two CSS Profile applications, one for your custodial and one for your noncustodial parent. If you do not have contact with your noncustodial parent, you may request a waiver of this requirement. You can find this waiver along with more information about divorced/separated parents on the College Board’s website. Your custodial parent will be the parent that has provided the most financial support to you in the past 12 months (even if you do not live with that parent).

  • FAFSA

    The FAFSA application allows us to review your eligibility for federal and state aid (for California residents only). Apply using Pitzer’s FAFSA code 001172. The FAFSA for 2024-25 will be available December 31, 2023.

    International students are not required to complete the FAFSA. Undocumented or AB540 students from California should complete the Dream Act application.

    Divorced/Separated Parents
    If your parents are divorced/separated, you only need to report information for one parent on the FAFSA. Report information for your custodial parent, which is the parent that has provided the most financial support to you in the past 12 months (even if you do not live with that parent).

  • Tax Documents

    Pitzer requires copies of tax documents in order to verify the information you provide on your CSS Profile and/or FAFSA applications.


    Who must submit documents

    Dependent students must provide copies of their (if applicable) and their parents’ tax documents. For students with divorced/separated parents, Pitzer requires tax documents for both the custodial and noncustodial parent. If your parent is remarried, also submit copies of your stepparent’s tax documents.

    Independent students must provide copies of their and their spouse’s tax documents (if applicable).


    Required tax documents

    U.S. Citizens, Eligible Non-Citizens, and Undocumented residents

    Tax Filers: If you or your parent(s) filed a Federal U.S. Tax Return, upload the entire copy of the federal tax return along with all schedules, statements, K-1s, 1099s, and W-2 forms to IDOC. In addition, if your parents’ file business tax returns (such as 1065, 1120S, 1120 Forms), upload copies of those forms as well.

    Non-Tax Filers who worked: If you and/or your parents worked, but did not file taxes, submit copies of any W-2 forms, 1099 forms, or K-1s. In addition, complete a Non-filing Statement (see Forms on our website) to list all sources of income received.

    Non-Tax Filers who did not work: If you and/or your parents did not work or earn income, complete a Non-filing Statement indicating $0 income.

    International Students
    Tax documents are not required for International students during the application process. If admitted, additional documents may be requested to verify information reported on your Pitzer International Aid Application.


    How to submit documents

    All tax documents must be uploaded directly to College Board’s Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC) system. Do not upload financial aid documents through your admission applicant status page. Financial Aid documents submitted through the Applicant Status Page will not be processed.

    Please do not email any documents containing Personal Identifiable Information (PII) to our office. Documents emailed to us that contain PII will be deleted and not processed.

    You may also mail your documents to:
    Office of Financial Aid
    Pitzer College
    1050 N. Mills Road
    Claremont, CA 91711

  • PIFAA

    International applicants interested in need-based financial aid only need to complete our online Pitzer International Financial Aid Application (PIFAA) form; please do not complete the CSS Profile or FAFSA.

    To access the PIFAA, international applicants must log-in using their Pitzer credentials. Credentials are emailed to you within 2 days of submitting your Common Application.

    Please have the following documents available in order to answer questions about student/parent income and assets on the PIFAA:
    •   Income Statements
    •   Bank Statements

  • Federal Verification

    About one-third of all FAFSA applications are selected for a process called verification. Verification requires that we collect additional information to review your federal aid eligibility. Students selected for federal verification may need to submit the following:

    • Verification Worksheet (see Forms on our website)
    • Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose (available in the Financial Aid Office only)

     

A Few Tips

We know the financial aid application process requires many steps; hopefully these tips will make the process easier.

  • Answer "Yes" to Financial Aid question on the Common App

    On your Common Application, make sure to answer “yes” to Pitzer’s question that asks “do you intend to pursue need-based financial aid?” Students who answer “no” to this question are not considered for financial aid and cannot change their response once admitted.

    International students who indicate “no” to the financial aid question cannot be considered for financial aid during their time at Pitzer.

    Domestic students who indicate “no” cannot be considered for institutional aid for the first two years; however, eligibility can be reviewed for the last two years. Student and parent loan options may be available to help fund the first two years.

  • Use your Social Security Number (SSN)

    We encourage you to use your SSN on all your online applications (FAFSA, CSS Profile, Common Application). U.S. Citizens and Eligible Non-Citizens should take time to double check that their SSN is accurate on the FAFSA (which requires an SSN or is considered invalid).

    While your SSN is not required on the CSS Profile or your admission Common Application, we encourage you to include your SSN to avoid processing delays. Without your SSN, it takes longer for our office to match all of your records (and let you know what we need).

    Login to your admission applicant status page to add or update your SSN.

  • Submit all required documents

    We know we ask for a lot. The best way to make sure we have everything we need is to submit complete copies of your documents. We require complete copies of all tax documents for the student, the custodial parent/s, noncustodial parent/s and stepparents. This includes copies of all personal tax returns, business tax returns, W-2s and 1099 forms. All documents and any requested forms should also have signatures.

  • Divorced/Separated Parents

    Students with divorced/separated parents will need two CSS Profile applications, one for your custodial and one for your noncustodial parent. If you do not have contact with your noncustodial parent, you may request a waiver of this requirement. You can find this waiver along with more information about divorced/separated parents on the College Board’s website.

    Your custodial parent will be the parent that has provided the most financial support to you in the past 12 months (even if you do not live with that parent).

  • Check your email

    Our office sends missing document notices and follow-up form requests to you (the student) via email. We do not email parents. However, we understand that students and their parents often work together to navigate the financial aid process; we encourage students to forward relevant information to their parents to assist in the process. Timely replies to our emails is key to making sure your aid application is reviewed. Make sure to add [email protected] to your safe sender list on your email settings.