Cal State Long Beach vs. Pitzer

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Long Beach in Long Beach, CA with Pitzer College in Claremont, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Long Beach is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Long Beach is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); Pitzer College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; Pitzer College 10:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Pitzer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or Pitzer? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Long Beach than Pitzer ($10,607 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 29.5% lower than at Pitzer College ($15,612 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 787% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $57,842 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 226.8% higher at Pitzer than at California State University Long Beach (about $45,242 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Long Beach than at Pitzer College (76% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 336.5% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($51,487 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. Pitzer Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Long Beach or Pitzer? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Pitzer and Cal State Long Beach.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 1020/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; Pitzer - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; Pitzer Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Cal State Long Beach (3.7).
• Cal State Long Beach has a higher acceptance rate (46.3%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 35.8% at Pitzer.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Pitzer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach and Pitzer? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Pitzer College's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than California State University Long Beach's (54%).
• Graduates from California State University Long Beach earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than Pitzer graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $895 lower median loan debt than Pitzer graduates ($15,000 vs. $15,895).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitzer graduates ($155 vs. $164).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Long Beach students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.