1. Offices
  2. Study Abroad & International Programs

Financial Planning

Program Costs 

Pitzer College employs a one-price policy, which allows all Pitzer students to have international and intercultural experiences as part of their Pitzer education. Students participating in semester or year-long programs are charged Pitzer College tuition, the on-campus universal room rate, the on-campus 16-meal plan rate*, and a $600 airfare contribution. Students participating in domestic programs are exempt from paying the $600 airfare contribution.

*Starting in Fall 2025, study abroad participants will be charged according to the 19-meal plan rate. 

Students participating in summer study abroad programs through Pitzer College are charged a comprehensive fee, similar to the tuition for two summer session courses. The $600 travel contribution is not charged to summer program participants.

The fees students pay to Pitzer College for either a semester, year-long, or summer program cover program tuition, non-refundable program fees, housing, meals during the program period, a round-trip airline ticket, visa fees, a transcript, and any other mandatory expenses required by the program. In addition, the fees charged by Pitzer are allocated not only for direct study abroad costs but also for the College's indirect costs incurred even when the student is abroad.

Fees paid to Pitzer College do not cover the following expenses. Students should consider these expenses in their budget planning. 

  • Passport and passport-sized photos required for applications and visas
  • Cost of pre-departure medical exams, required immunizations, or prophylactic medication
  • Additional costs incurred for airfare that exceeds the price of a standard round-trip ticket or if arriving before or extending after the program dates, changing a ticket, or if participating in a domestic program
  • Cost of housing and meals before or after the program or during school breaks (e.g., breaks between terms or semesters, spring break)
  • Refundable deposits
  • Expenses for items or services not typically provided on the program but to which students may be accustomed (e.g., email or internet access, access to computer labs, athletic facilities, etc.)
  • Expenses for items or services not typically included in the cost of attendance on campus at Pitzer (e.g., personal entertainment, independent travel during school breaks, field trips that are not a required part of a course, mobile phone charges, laundry charges, etc.)
  • Clothing (e.g., winter jackets, boots, rain gear, formal attire, etc.) needed for climate conditions, cultural reasons, or activities at the program site
  • Extra course fees, lab fees, and school supplies
  • Expenses resulting from a difference in the cost of living. Expenses in your study abroad location may be the same, higher, or lower than in Claremont.

Room and Meal Allowances 

In cases where a program does not include housing or meals, students will receive an allowance from the Office of Study Abroad and International Programs to cover these costs. Students may also receive allowances for other incidentals recommended by the program.

Important Note: What Pitzer College charges students will not correspond directly to the amounts they receive for their program since costs vary by program, program type, and program location. 

Airfare Policy

All students participating in an international study abroad program must book their flights with Pitzer's designated travel agent. Students will not be reimbursed if they purchase tickets on their own. Students attending a domestic program will cover their airfare and are not required to work with Pitzer's designated travel agent. 

Pitzer College will cover round-trip airfare based on travel from the closest major international airport to the student’s permanent address city in the US to the designated international airport for the exact dates of the program. For international students, what Pitzer will cover is based on the cost of a round-trip flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). If baggage is not included in the ticket the travel agent issues, Pitzer will reimburse students for one checked bag that meets the airline’s standard size and weight requirements. Students who deviate from the program dates, request stopovers, or make any other special arrangement with the travel agent, may be subject to a difference in airfare if it exceeds the airfare for the standard flight based on the previously indicated parameters (location and program dates). Students who wish to change their flights after a ticket has been issued will be responsible for any change-related fees. 

Financial Aid

Financial aid recipients who study abroad for the semester or year are eligible to receive financial aid during their semester abroad.

In general, students who study abroad on a semester program are eligible to receive the same level of aid while abroad as they would if they were at Pitzer, with a few exceptions:

  • Work-Study. While students are abroad, they are ineligible to work through Pitzer. Even remote work is not allowed. Thus, the work-study allotment is removed, and the student's remaining need is converted into a grant. This grant is not paid directly to the student. Instead, it is paid directly to the student's Pitzer Student Account at the start of the semester to reduce their family’s bill/costs to Pitzer. Students who earn more than their work-study allotment each semester will notice a decrease in overall income when going abroad. Students who work but are not work-study recipients will lose the ability to earn money while abroad.
  • Travel Contribution. Each semester, a student's cost of attendance includes an estimated cost for traveling to Pitzer, ranging from $50-$500, depending on their state of permanent residence. When a student studies abroad, this travel expense is removed from their cost of attendance and replaced by the $600 Study Abroad travel contribution. Only one travel contribution is considered throughout a student's time at Pitzer. Students who study abroad for more than one semester will not receive assistance for a second travel contribution.

Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid if they have questions about how study abroad and on-campus costs compare or if they have questions about how their aid applies. 

Financial aid for summer study abroad is available to help cover the comprehensive cost, which includes tuition, fees, housing, and meals. Students should consult with the Office of Financial Aid on summer aid options and what is available to them.  

Billing

Semester and summer students are billed through Student Accounts at Pitzer. Fall charges will be posted on CASHNet in mid-July and appear on the August bill. Spring charges are posted in mid-December and will appear on the January bill. Summer charges typically post on May 1. Please contact The Office of Student Accounts for information on billing schedules and payment options.

Withdrawal Policy

Students wishing to withdraw from their study abroad program must write to the Office of Study Abroad and International Programs. Depending on when the withdrawal request is submitted, students may be subject to the program provider's refund policy. Students will also be responsible for any unrecoverable expenses incurred on their behalf by Pitzer College.  In addition, Pitzer College will require repayment of any allowances paid directly to the student.