Pitzer College
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Pitzer College is committed to meeting the full demonstrated need of all admitted students; our financial aid awards do not include an unfunded gap. Our financial aid awards are composed of modest work and loan awards, and the remainder of the student’s need is met with federal, state and institutional grant assistance. Pitzer does not include unsubsidized federal loans or parent PLUS loans as part of the financial aid award, unless specifically requested by the student or parent, to ensure students are borrowing as little as necessary. All regularly admitted students receive a copy of the Federal Shopping Sheet with their financial aid award to encourage the student to compare costs at comparison schools in a uniform, and clear format. Our use of institutional methodology collects a more comprehensive accounting of the applicant’s financial circumstances than is possible with the FAFSA application. Students are able to report both prior year and expected income, which provides household income trends that the financial aid administrator can use to better understand the family’s ability to contribute to college costs. The application also collects information about unusually high medical/dental expenses, which we take into consideration and will decrease a parent contribution when limited family resources are being directed to nondiscretionary health care costs. Further, institutional methodology accounts for a larger protection of family income for living expenses than federal methodology, and a lower family contribution towards educational costs for our highest need students.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (Federal/institutional Grant) – Scholarship assistance funded by Federal and Institutional contributions that are awarded to students with very high need. Pitzer Scholarship – Need based scholarship assistance New Resources Scholarship – Need based scholarship assistance that covers up to the full cost of tuition for students admitted through the New Resources program. Arnoldo Rodgriguez Scholarship- Scholarship assistance for undocumented students. Pitzker Scholarship- A $5,000 annual award granted to first year students. MECHANISM Scholarship- Need based scholarship assistance awarded to students majoring in STEM Rose Hills Scholarship- Need based scholarship assistance awarded to students majoring in science and math, from southern California, low income and minimum GPA of 3.5. Yellow Ribbon Match Scholarship- Scholarship assistance for Veterans or children of Veterans who served in the military after Sept 11, 2011. Say Yes to Education – Students who are admitted through the Say Yes program whose family income is at or below $75,000 are typically eligible to attend Pitzer College with a financial aid award that covers the full cost of tuition and fees.

Through the Pitzer Pathways Initiative, Pitzer partners with community-based organizations (CBOs) across the United States that serve first-generation, disadvantaged and nontraditional age students. Beginning in the spring of 2014, all admission counselors visit CBOs in their recruitment territories to provide college admission workshops, conduct interviews and offer tutorials on essay writing. The goal is to assist these organizations’ ability to help low-income students attend some of America’s best institutions of higher learning. Each year the Admission Office visits 25+ CBO’s across the country. Pitzer partners directly with national organizations including Say Yes, I’m First, the United World College Davis Program, Chicago Scholars, LEDA Scholars, and Horatio Alger Scholars, EMERGE, and Gates Millennium Scholars Program Pitzer hosts the Native American Summer Pipeline to College program, which brings local Native American students to campus to interact with students, learn about the college admissions process and experience college life.

As part of our commitment to diversity and intercultural understanding, Pitzer College hosts a Fall and Spring Diversity weekend. This program is designed specifically for high school seniors from underrepresented racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds from across the United States. Each year we fund approximately 100 students for an all-inclusive, all-expense paid trip for which round-trip transportation (air, train, bus, gas/mileage reimbursement) will be covered. Attendees are hosted by current students in the residence halls and dine on campus throughout the three-day weekend. The program provides prospective students an opportunity to experience the distinct atmosphere that sets Pitzer College apart from other colleges while interacting with current students, faculty, staff and other high school seniors considering Pitzer.

Students who receive outside scholarship from private organizations may use the awards to replace federal need based loans, work study awards and if the student has unmet federal need, replace that need to increase the overall benefit to scholarship recipients. Student summer earnings contributions are reduced from $1550 to $900 for students who come from households with total incomes lower than $30,000.

New Resources Scholarship Osher Reentry Scholarship

Pitzer College established the New Resources Program in 1974 to bring the small, liberal arts college experience to students of non-traditional college age. The program was founded with the conviction that a truly diverse campus is one eager to encounter the added dimension brought by students of a range of ages as well as backgrounds and interests. New Resources students enroll in courses at Pitzer as well as the other Claremont Colleges. They may attend on full or part-time basis, and they are encouraged to plan their course loads with a realistic appraisal of their family and job commitments.