Pitzer College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Pitzer College charges a net price of $34,191/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $136,764. Graduates earn a median $69,512 ten years after entry, $21,152/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.5 years — a 20-year net return of $286,276, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Pitzer College's 6.5-year payback ranks #574 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 55% of them, and #82 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $34,191/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $136,764 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $69,512 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $21,152/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $16,750 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 6.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $286,276 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Pitzer College's own numbers. Net price $34,191 × 4 years = $136,764 total. Median earnings $69,512 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $21,152 a year of premium. $136,764 ÷ $21,152 = 6.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $286,276. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Pitzer College students graduate with?
A median $16,750 in federal loans among completers, or 24% of the $69,512 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Pitzer College students graduate?
83% finish their degree. Spread the $136,764 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $164,776 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Pitzer College expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $34,191 net price runs $14,286 above the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, or $57,144 more across the full degree.