Pitzer College Sagehen Support Center

Campus Basic Needs & Financial Opportunities Resources

Below is a list of financial support and funding resources throughout Pitzer College and the surrounding community. These opportunities are subject to change. Please reach out to each corresponding office for any questions or concerns.

  • Financial Aid
    • Pitzer College Financial Aid Resources
      • Pitzer College Medical Loan – Pitzer financial aid recipients can borrow to cover the cost of SHIP. The loan is 0% interest. Repayment begins after the student leaves Pitzer. The minimum payment is $50/month with up to a ten year repayment period.
      • Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan – Pitzer students can borrow up to $2000/year
      • Pitzer Loan Emergency Fund – Pitzer financial aid recipients can appeal for additional funding to meet academic needs, medical expenses, etc.
      • FAFSA: All Pitzer students can submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to be considered for Federal Subsidized Direct Loan (must demonstrate need) and Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan. Annual loan amounts vary based on your year in school.
  • Research and Internships
    • Dean of Faculty Student Funding Resources (please contact: [email protected], Office of the Dean of Faculty)
      • Conference Travel: Pitzer students who are presenting papers at an academic conference in collaboration with Pitzer faculty
      • Faculty-Student Summer Research: Pitzer students receive a stipend to undertake a research assistantship with a Pitzer Faculty member during the summer with funding
      • Katie Lawson Endowed Memorial Award: Helps Pitzer Students, particularly psychology majors, to pursue their social work or community service objectives
      • Research and Awards: provides Pitzer students research projects in connect with Independent Study or Senior Thesis
    • Career Services
      • Pitzer Internship Fund: Pitzer student engagement in meaningful summer internship experiences that facilitate career exploration and the development of professional skills and networks. Students apply through an established, committee based process with applications due around spring break.
      • Winter Break Job Shadowing Program: Pitzer students must be on financial aid and need to submit documents to be determined by Career services with applications due typically around Thanksgiving.
      • Graduate Test Preparation Fund – The President’s Office funds Pitzer students with demonstrated financial need to enroll in graduate test preparation courses or to purchase test preparation materials. Career Services administers this application based fund on behalf of the President’s Office. Funds are awarded on a rolling basis and must be utilized as a reimbursement.
    • Keck Science
      • Research Funding: Keck offers an extensive summer research program, in which students receive a paid fellowship to work with faculty throughout the Keck Science Department. It’s important to complete applications early and they are typically due around early February.
  • Study Abroad
    • Study Abroad
      • Nash Family Endowed Study Abroad Scholarship: This needs-based scholarship is for Pitzer College students who are studying abroad, especially those who demonstrate an interest in community or public service, urban issues or other areas of civic engagement. The Office of Study Abroad and International Programs administers this application, and applicants are selected by the Office of Financial Aid in conjunction with the Office of Study Abroad and International Programs. Scholarship funding is coordinated with a student’s financial aid package. Applications are announced in July for students going abroad in the fall, and again in November for students studying abroad in the spring.
      • Study Abroad Student Support Fund: This fund assists students on financial aid who wish to study abroad. This fund provides a financial award to cover costs beyond financial aid, such as passports, baggage fees, required immunizations not covered by insurance, additional transportation costs, or day-to-day incidentals. Students must submit receipts along with a short request in order to be considered for a reimbursement. Interested students should contact the Office of Study Abroad and International Programs for further details.
      • Scott Family Adventure Award: Through the John and Carrie Santangelo Foundation, Pitzer alumnus John T. Scott ’87, director of the Foundation, pledged money to establish and endow the Scott Adventure Award at Pitzer College. The biannual award, presented by the Office of Study Abroad and International Programs, enables study abroad students to pursue a special project or interest that would enhance their overseas experience. Interested students should contact the Office of Study Abroad and International Programs for further details
  • New Resources Students
    • Dean of Faculty New Resources Student Funding (please contact: Natalie Rosales, Office of the Dean of Faculty)
      • Catherine Blore Endowed Book Fund : New Resources Students with financial needs to offset the cost of their books
  • Student Organizations and Student Senate
    • Student Senate: Senate also recognizes and funds all student organizations and it is responsible for distributing more than $270,000 annually in student activities funds. Student Senate is committed to upholding the Core Values of Pitzer College in all areas of student life and continuously strives to improve the welfare of students.
    • Student Organizations: There are almost fifty active clubs and student groups at Pitzer College. Recognized and funded by the Pitzer College Student Senate, our student organizations encompass a wide range of interests and welcome your participation.
  • Committee Funding
    • Diversity Committee: seeks to implement the College’s commitments to expanded racial and ethnic diversity in the student body and in the faculty and to better representation of minority concerns in the curriculum and in student life
    • Immigration Civil Rights Funds: Assist potentially vulnerable students with continuing access to a Pitzer College education with confidence and without impediment. This fund will be used to defray costs imposed on our students by legislation that targets people based on their immigration status. It will also provide support to students by offering resources for endeavors such as, but not limited to, career-developing internships, financial aid needs, and academic research projects.
    • Campus Life Committee: Enhance the intellectual, cultural, and social life of the College, to promote and support close faculty-student relationships, and to encourage the involvement of alumni in the campus community. CLC fulfills its mission primarily by allocating various funds for special events, activities, programs, and projects that will enhance campus life.
    • Teaching & Learning Committee: Help faculty improve their teaching, to help students improve their learning, and to develop opportunities for conversation and reflection among faculty, students, and staff around topics of teaching and learning.
    • Rainbow People Collaborative: How this works: We may create an online appointment sign-up sheet in the future, but for now individuals needing funding requests can contact me via email with the subject line “RPC Funding: (any additional info)” to set up an appointment time. I will also be hosting office hours in the Lavender Resource Room (aka RPC room, located in the Mead quad) Tuesdays 11 am-12pm and 6:30-7pm, and Wednesdays from 11am-12pm. Other times will need to be by appointment. Appointment slots are about 20 mins long or less, depending on how much time you need, but usually funding requests don’t take long. If we are unable to fulfil the full amount of a funding request we may issue a partial fulfillment. Confidentiality: The information of people requesting funds will be kept confidential between you and the person you make your appointment with. Additional Info: Rainbow People meets Tuesdays from 7-8pm and we would love to welcome new people to our space. We will be hosting events throughout the semester so look out for those! Our previous events have included QTPOC focused events, parties, open mic nights, and fundraisers.
  • Other Funding Opportunities
    • Community Engagement Center: The Community Engagement Center supports Pitzer Faculty, students, staff and community partners in forwarding social responsibility and community engagement in surrounding communities through research, service, advocacy and social action. (for more information contact Jackie Contreras)
      • Kallick Community Service Award: available each semester for students completing service or social responsibility projects.
      • Newman Civic Fellowship: Recognizes and supports community-committed students who are change makers and public problem-solvers at Campus Compact member institutions. Fellows are nominated by their president or chancellor on the basis of their potential for public leadership. Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides students with training and resources that nurture their assets and passions and help them develop strategies or social change.
      • Global Local Thesis Award: Funding is awarded to students who
        complete a senior thesis/project involving community-based work across local and global settings. The project should explore a common theme both locally and
        internationally, ideally integrating study abroad experience with domestic internship work.
      • Additional funding opportunities to cover travel costs and live scan/TB tests