Pitzer College vs Whittier College

Pitzer College and Whittier College, both located in Southern California, offer distinct educational experiences for prospective students. Pitzer, known for its liberal arts focus and emphasis on social justice, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a more diverse student body compared to Whittier. On the other hand, Whittier, with its strong science and business programs, attracts a larger student population and offers a higher graduation rate. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two institutions, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the table to discover which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Pitzer College logo

Pitzer College

Whittier College logo

Whittier College

Overview

Location Claremont, California Whittier, California
Campus setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester 4-1-4
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 93.0% 82.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 18.3% 82.5%
Application fees $70
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $70
SAT range N/A 1120 - 1340
ACT range N/A 23 - 28
Students submitting SAT score 11.0%
Students submitting ACT score 9.0%
Total number of applicants 3,676 2,884
Total number of admissions given out 673 2,379
Admitted students who chose to enroll 357 277
Yield rate 53.0% 11.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $74,950 $61,014
Average net price $19,153 $22,091
Tuition $57,686 $48,924
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $11,282

Meal plan: $7,898
Room/dormitory: $8,216

Meal plan: $6,756
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

42.0%
Average amount $39,399
97.0%
Average amount $32,645
Students receiving federal student loan 24.0%
Average amount $3,323
65.0%
Average amount $5,040
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $14,063
6.0%
Average amount $17,379

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,168
Men 41.4% Women 58.6%
1,325
Men 43.7% Women 56.3%
Graduate students N/A 62
Men 25.8% Women 74.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 7.2% 6.3%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 972 849
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Education
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 11:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 88.4% 63.6%
Dropout rate 11.2% 3.6%
Transferred out N/A 31.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,150
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,378
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,282
  • Year 2: $41,689
  • Year 3: $64,434
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,241
  • Year 2: $67,324
  • Year 3: $59,453
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,364
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $54,567
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,650
  • Year 2: $35,914
  • Year 3: $47,815
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,730
  • Year 2: $28,309
  • Year 3: $42,330
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,976
  • Year 2: $14,935
  • Year 3: $38,238
Social Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,267
  • Year 2: $26,715
  • Year 3: $37,247
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,562
  • Year 2: $21,508
  • Year 3: $35,879
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,185
  • Year 2: $16,015
  • Year 3: $34,329
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,103
  • Year 2: $27,765
  • Year 3: $30,273

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