Pitzer vs. UC Merced

Pitzer College and University of California Merced side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Pitzer College
University of California Merced

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Pitzer (25.2% admitted vs 90.5%). Typical SAT N/A vs 1050.
  • Cheaper after aid: UC Merced. Average net price is $13,690 vs $34,979 at Pitzer.
  • Graduation: Pitzer 81% vs UC Merced 58%.
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Key differences

Pitzer College University of California Merced
Acceptance rate
Pitzer more selective
Pitzer25.2%
UC Merced90.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UC Merced higher
Pitzer-
UC Merced960-1140
Average net price
UC Merced $21,289 less
Pitzer$34,979
UC Merced$13,690
In-state tuition
UC Merced $49,569 less
Pitzer$65,192
UC Merced$15,623
Out-of-state tuition
UC Merced $15,369 less
Pitzer$65,192
UC Merced$49,823
Graduation rate
Pitzer +23 pts
Pitzer81%
UC Merced58%
Median earnings (10 years)
Pitzer +$49,600
Pitzer$49,600
UC Merced-

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Pitzer 3,438
  • UC Merced 31,928
  • Admitted
  • Pitzer 865
  • UC Merced 28,906
  • Acceptance rate
  • Pitzer 25.2%
  • UC Merced 90.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Pitzer 35.8%
  • UC Merced 7.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pitzer
  • UC Merced 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pitzer
  • UC Merced 21
  • Average high school GPA
  • Pitzer 3.93
  • UC Merced 3.55
  • Typical high school grades
  • Pitzer A
  • UC Merced A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Pitzer Unavailable
  • UC Merced Very Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • Pitzer High
  • UC Merced
  • SAT range
  • Pitzer
  • UC Merced 960-1140
  • ACT range
  • Pitzer
  • UC Merced 19-24
  • Submit test scores
  • Pitzer Test-free
  • UC Merced Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • Pitzer Jan 1, 2027
  • UC Merced Nov 30, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Pitzer $65,192
  • UC Merced $15,623
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Pitzer $65,192
  • UC Merced $49,823
  • Room & board
  • Pitzer $22,150
  • UC Merced $21,445
  • Average net price
  • Pitzer $34,979
  • UC Merced $13,690
  • Average grant aid
  • Pitzer $51,487
  • UC Merced $27,292
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Pitzer 39%
  • UC Merced 89%
  • Graduation rate
  • Pitzer 81%
  • UC Merced 58%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Pitzer $49,600
  • UC Merced N/A
  • Making student loan payments
  • Pitzer 81%
  • UC Merced 64%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Pitzer $15,895
  • UC Merced $19,899
  • Median loan payment
  • Pitzer $164
  • UC Merced $205
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Pitzer 10:1
  • UC Merced 20:1
  • Popular majors
  • Pitzer
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • General Studies (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • UC Merced
    • Psychology (22%)
    • Biology (21%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Business (12%)
  • Location
  • Pitzer Claremont, CA
  • UC Merced Merced, CA
  • Setting
  • Pitzer Large Suburban
  • UC Merced Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Pitzer 1,242
  • UC Merced 9,110
  • Type
  • Pitzer Private 4 Year
  • UC Merced Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Pitzer
  • UC Merced #642

Comparable Facts

Compare Pitzer College in Claremont, CA with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Merced is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 1,242 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Merced are 3.2% lower than at Pitzer College ($21,445 vs. $22,150).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.8% higher at Pitzer than at University of California Merced (about $15,369 more per year; $65,192 vs. $49,823).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at Pitzer College (89% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 88.7% larger than aid received by University of California Merced students ($51,487 vs. $27,292).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Pitzer and UC Merced.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Pitzer average a 3.93 high school GPA, 0.38 higher than at UC Merced (3.55).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pitzer College graduates have a $4,004 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($15,895 vs. $19,899).
  • Among borrowers, Pitzer graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($164 vs. $205).
  • More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation (81% vs. 64%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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