Cost of Attendance

At Pitzer, all students are charged for tuition and a comprehensive student activity fee. Most students are expected to enroll full-time, taking four courses each semester to ensure they can complete their degree within their semesters of aid eligibility.

Full-Time Enrollment: Enrolling in 3 – 5* courses is considered full-time. Students receive the same level of financial aid whether they enroll in three, four, or five courses. While three courses still qualify as full-time, we recommend taking four courses to stay on track for timely graduation.

Half-Time Enrollment: Enrolling in 2 – 2.99 courses is considered part-time, with financial aid pro-rated based on tuition charges. For detailed tuition breakdowns, please visit the Tuition & Fees section of the Student Accounts website.

Less than Half-Time Enrollment: Enrolling in .25 – 1.99 courses is considered less than part-time, and students generally do not qualify for financial aid except for the Federal Pell Grant. Pell Grant recipients will have their grant pro-rated according to federal guidelines.

*Enrollment in more than 5 credits is subject to a course overload fee of $220. See Tuition & Fees on the Student Accounts website for more details.

During the first ten days of each semester, students have the flexibility to adjust their course schedules, and both their aid and tuition charges are pro-rated accordingly. After the 10th day of the semester, enrollment becomes locked, and adjustments to aid and tuition are no longer possible. Please reference the Academic Calendar for the “last day to add/drop for a tuition refund or financial aid adjustment”.

Adding a Course: If a student adds a course after the add/drop deadline, additional financial aid will not be available to cover the increased cost.

Dropping a Course: If a student drops a course after the add/drop deadline, their financial aid is not adjusted to reflect reduced coursework. It's important to note that this could affect the student's ability to graduate within their semesters of aid eligibility. Refer to the Maximum Timeframe Requirement on our Satisfactory Academic Progress page for more details.

Students who are considered part-time at the 'add/drop' deadline have their financial aid adjusted to reflect the lower part-time tuition rate. In many cases, students who are part-time do not experience a change in their billing or balance and may end up paying the same total cost.

Students who plan to be part-time can request an appointment with a financial aid counselor to get an estimate of their financial aid if enrolled part-time. When requesting the appointment, please specify the exact number of courses you to take as a part-time student. This will help the financial aid office provide accurate information regarding aid eligibility.

A student’s housing situation directly affects their housing & food budget, which is key in determining financial aid eligibility.

The financial aid Cost of Attendance (COA) is tailored to reflect three distinct housing options: living on campus in residence halls or CCA, renting off campus, or residing at home with family. These budgets are designed to realistically estimate the varying costs associated with different housing arrangements and align with similar practices at other local colleges.

Below are the three housing and food budgets for the 2024-25 academic year:

In addition, students who live off campus or with parents/relatives receive a transportation budget of $225/semester or $450/year to cover the increased commuting costs to and from Pitzer.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the on-campus housing & food budget includes the cost of the universal room rate and the 19-meal plan.

These figures are determined based on local living costs in Claremont and data from the California Student Aid Commission’s (CSAC’s) Student Expenses and Resources Survey (SEARS). CSAC’s expense budgets are derived from the average expenses reported by students at California public and private institutions, using 2018 SEARS data. All budgets are calculated for the 9-month academic year and reflect costs relevant to that period only.

When considering off-campus housing, students should carefully consider whether their financial aid budget is sufficient to cover essential expenses such as rent, food, utilities, and internet for the 9-month academic year. Some students may opt for year-long leases extending over 12 months and should budget for the increased costs of renting over the summer.

The off-campus housing budget is based on local rental costs for 9 months and includes estimated food expenses from the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). This budget assumes students share accommodations equivalent to a 'double' occupancy rather than living alone ('single' occupancy). Additionally, it incorporates a $50 per month allowance for commuting expenses, in addition to the transportation allowance already included in the cost of attendance.

We strongly advise all students renting off campus to consider comprehensive budgeting and to account for costs beyond rent and food, such as utilities, internet, furnishings, insurance, and other potential expenses. It's essential to note that the housing and food budgets used for financial aid cover expenses during the 9-month academic year (September to May); summer expenses are not included.

Students who live off campus also assume responsibility for their lease agreements and associated costs. For instance, if a student decides to terminate their off-campus lease early, they are liable for any related expenses as per the lease agreement. Current financial aid recipients are encouraged to contact the Office of Financial Aid with any questions as they prepare for the upcoming academic year.

Students residing at CCA receive the same financial aid package as those in the residence halls. Financial aid remains the same regardless of whether students live in the residence halls or CCA. However, charges may vary. CCA students pay the same room rate as on-campus students but can opt for the 5-meal plan.

The campus housing and food budget covers the expense of this meal plan and offers flexibility to cover other food expenses and additional transportation costs to and from Pitzer. Refer to Aid & Refunds for more details.

The budget for students living at home with their family is based on the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) estimate of housing and food expenses for the 9-month academic year. This budget also includes $50 per month for commuting costs.

For the 2024-25 academic year, students living at home with family have a housing and food budget of $11,492 annually (or $5,746 per semester). This budget accounts for increased food and utility expenses for the family due to having the student at home.

Typically, students living at home receive a reduced Pitzer Scholarship due to the lower housing and food budget. However, most also see savings in overall costs compared to living on campus because there are no housing or food charges from Pitzer while living at home. Navigate to Aid & Refunds for more details.

It's important to note that the housing and food budget is not cash directly given to students for off-campus or at-home housing expenses. Instead, all financial aid funds (including grants and loans) are disbursed (paid) to the student's Student Account to cover tuition and fees and other direct charges. If the total aid disbursed exceeds the student's tuition and fees, the student may receive a refund to help pay for off-campus expenses.

Students expecting a refund (when total aid exceeds charges on account) to assist with off-campus or at-home expenses should submit all required documents to Financial Aid no later than the first day of classes of each semester to ensure timely processing of refunds. Additionally, please note the following:

1. All financial aid funds are disbursed from Financial Aid to Student Accounts only after all financial aid documents have been received. Aid may not be disbursed, or may only be partially disbursed, for students who are missing documents once classes begin.
2. Students eligible for a refund should complete a Refund Request Form with Student Accounts.
3. Student Accounts will process refund requests starting on the 14th day of the semester, after enrollment is finalized.
4. Students can enroll in eRefund through CASHNet for quicker electronic deposits into their personal bank account.

All enrolled Pitzer students must have health insurance that provides comprehensive coverage in California and nationwide. Students are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) through Pitzer but can waive it with proof of comparable coverage.

The cost of SHIP is not included in the standard student budget. Students unable to waive SHIP should contact the Office of Financial Aid to explore available options for covering this cost.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the tentative cost of SHIP is $3,125.

All Federal Direct Loans are assessed an origination fee by the federal government. This fee is deducted from the loan amount before it is disbursed (paid) to the borrower, resulting in the borrower receiving less than the total amount borrowed.

To mitigate this fee, students who accept their Subsidized Direct Loan will receive additional grant assistance of $25/semester or $50/year. The Office of Financial Aid will update aid packages for this fee in late September.

Students who have academic course fees may have the fee covered by a course fee scholarship. These fees and scholarships are reviewed after the 10th day of the semester when enrollment is finalized. Please note, financial aid does not cover physical education fees.

The Office of Financial Aid does not provide funding for additional charges that may appear on the student's account, including but not limited to: vehicle registration fees, late fees, course overload fees, health services fees, fines, or citations.

Need a quick idea of your potential aid eligibility? This tool asks six basic financial questions and gives you an early estimate of the amount your family can expect to contribute for one year at Pitzer.

Keep in Mind

• This tool is meant for prospective, first-year, domestic, students.
• Your financial information is secure. We do not retain personally identifying information you provide.
• The estimator’s result is based on the information you enter. It provides a good estimate, a starting point, but it is not a guarantee of financial aid.
• Divorced/Separated parents: Parents who are divorced, separated or live apart, should each complete their own Net Price Calculator. The family should add the “Expected Family Contribution” of both MyinTuition results to come up with a more accurate family contribution.

Want a more in depth estimate of your aid eligibility? The Net Price Calculator uses the self-reported information and applies Pitzer’s awarding policies to estimate an expected family contribution (EFC). The EFC is used to determine a student’s financial aid eligibility.

Keep in Mind

• This tool is meant for prospective, first-year, domestic, students.
• The NPC is meant as a general tool to guide entering first-years and their families. It is not a guarantee of aid or an application for financial aid.
• Make sure to answer all questions as accurately as possible. The results are only as accurate as the information you provide.
• Divorced/Separated parents: Parents who are divorced, separated or live apart, should each complete their own Net Price Calculator. The family should add the “Expected Family Contribution” of both Net Price Calculator results to come up with a more accurate family contribution.

What you will need

• Copies of your and your parent(s)’ federal income tax returns.
• Copies of your and your parent(s)’ W-2/1099 forms.