Pitzer vs. Thomas College

Comparable Facts

Compare Pitzer College in Claremont, CA with Thomas College in Waterville, ME on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Thomas College is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (1,635 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pitzer College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Thomas College is in Waterville, ME (Rural Fringe setting).
• Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Thomas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pitzer College 10:1; Thomas College 20:1.

Pitzer vs. Thomas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer or Thomas College? 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 Thomas College than Pitzer ($19,126 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas College are 36.4% lower than at Pitzer College ($14,090 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 104.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $33,368 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 104.9% higher at Pitzer than at Thomas College (about $33,368 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Thomas College than at Pitzer College (98% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 82.5% larger than aid received by Thomas College students ($51,487 vs. $28,212).

Pitzer vs. Thomas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pitzer or Thomas College? 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 Thomas College and Pitzer.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; Thomas College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 16.1% at Thomas College.

Pitzer vs. Thomas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer and Thomas College? 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 Thomas College's (45%).
• Graduates from Pitzer College earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than Thomas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pitzer College graduates have a $11,105 lower median loan debt than Thomas College graduates ($15,895 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Pitzer graduates have an estimated $115 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Thomas College graduates ($164 vs. $279).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Thomas College students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 67%)

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.