Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance (COA), also known as the student's budget, is a crucial factor in determining your aid eligibility.

CostOn-CampusOff-CampusAt Home
Tuition$64,888$64,888$64,888
Fees$304$304$304
Housing$12,544$9,960$11,492
Food$9,606$7,354Included in figure above
Books & Supplies$1,100$1,100$1,100
Personal Expenses$1,300$1,300$1,300
Average Loan Fees*$50$50$50
Total$89,792$84,956$79,134

Tuition & Fees

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.

Student Accounts

Contact Student Accounts Office for help with billing & payment.

Spring 2025 bills will be available through CASHNet starting the week of January 6 and due by January 20.

Billing

Housing & Food

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:

 Campus Housing
(residence halls/CCA)
Off Campus
(renting)
At Home
(with family)
Housing$12,544$9,960$11,492
Food$9,606$7,354Included in figure above
Total$22,150$17,314$11,492

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.

Meal Plan Deadline

The last day to change your meal plan for spring 2025 is January 7. Contact housing@photographywaltz.com to update your meal plan.

Meal Plans

Other Costs

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.

SHIP

Have SHIP questions? Visit the Student Health Insurance Plan Portal for waivers, summary of benefits, FAQs and more!

Student Health Insurance Portal

Estimate Aid

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.

MyinTuition

Use this tool for a quick estimate that takes five minutes to complete. 

Myin Tuition