Grants & Scholarships

Pitzer offers need-based scholarships to domestic and international students to help make the cost of education more affordable. These scholarships are awarded based on financial need, as determined by the information provided through the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and tax documents. Award amounts vary and are reassessed each year to reflect changes in a family’s financial situation. The goal is to provide financial assistance that helps cover the cost of tuition, fees, housing, and other expenses, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to attend Pitzer, regardless of their economic background.

Our goal is to ensure that financial circumstances never limit academic possibilities, and we continue to seek new ways to make a transformative Pitzer education accessible to all. We are excited to share that, starting in Fall 2025, the Pitzer Opportunity Grant (POG) will provide significant support to help students afford a Pitzer education:

California Residents
Pitzer College will cover 100% of tuition for students with an annual household income and family assets of $120,000 or less, or who qualify for a Cal Grant.

Out-of-State Residents
Pitzer College will cover 100% of tuition for students with an annual household income and family assets of $120,000 or less.

This $5,000 per year renewable scholarship is available to first-year students who meet specific academic qualifications. All first-year applicants are automatically considered for this scholarship—no separate application is needed.

The scholarship is renewable for a maximum of eight academic semesters, provided the student maintains a 2.0 cumulative GPA and is enrolled at least half-time.

Only a limited number of Trustee Community Scholarships are awarded each year to incoming first-year students. The Office of Admission considers students for this scholarship at the time of admission; it is not reassessed or awarded later.

This one-time, non-renewable scholarship is available to one first-year student who meets specific academic qualifications. All first-year applicants are automatically considered for this scholarship—no separate application is needed.

The scholarship amount ranges from $1,500 to $2,500, depending on available funding. Each academic year, only one Academic Achievement Scholarship is awarded to a prospective first-year student.

Pitzer participates in the Tuition Exchange (TE) program, offering scholarship funds to the dependents of eligible faculty and staff at member schools worldwide. These scholarships are competitive, with only two recipients selected each year.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the TE scholarship was $42,000. This amount is set annually by Tuition Exchange and may increase each year. For more details, please visit the TE website.

Eligibility

• Must be the dependent of an eligible parent from a TE participating school.
• Must be an entering student (first-year or transfer). TE is not available to continuing students who were not awarded TE upon admission.
• Must submit the TE application by the Pitzer's application deadlines noted below. Late applications will not be considered.
• Must be seeking their first bachelor's degree.

How to Apply

Eligible students need to apply for admission to Pitzer, complete the TE application process, and apply for financial aid (if applicable) by our admission application deadlines: 

• Early Decision 1: November 15
• Early Decision 2: January 5
• Regular Decision: January 5
• Fall Transfers/New Resources: April 1
• Spring Transfers: October 1

Tuition exchange is limited, thus, all families seeking assistance are encouraged to apply for need-based financial aid. Use our Net Price Calculator and MyinTuition tools to help estimate financial aid eligibility.

For questions about the TE application process, contact the TE representative at your parent's home institution. Additional information is also available on the TE website.

Scholarship Notification

Early Decision 1/Early Decision 2/Regular Decision applicants: TE applicants are selected during Pitzer’s Regular Decision cycle and notified by April 1. Early Decision applicants admitted before March will be considered for TE during the Regular Decision cycle.

Fall transfer applicants: TE applicants are selected during Pitzer’s Fall Transfer cycle and notified by May 15.

Spring transfer applicants: Spring transfers are considered for TE in the Regular Decision cycle of the following year and are notified by April 1. TE recipients are selected in March, so spring transfers will not know if they are selected for TE until after their first semester at Pitzer.

Scholarship Terms/Conditions

• For incoming first-year students, these scholarships are awarded for up to eight semesters or until graduation, whichever comes first.
• Transfer students receive the scholarship for a pro-rated number of semesters based on the courses approved for transfer at the time of admission or until graduation, whichever comes first.
• Funding for summer terms is not available.
• TE scholarships are pro-rated for students enrolled half-time.
• Students enrolled less than half-time are not eligible for the scholarship during their less-than-half-time semester(s).

Renewal Criteria

Scholarships are renewed each year based on continued parental benefit eligibility, maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by Pitzer’s Office of Financial Aid (which includes having a minimum 2.0 GPA) and maintaining good conduct with the College.

The Federal Pell Grant is designed to make higher education accessible to U.S. Citizens and Eligible Non-Citizens. 

By completing the FAFSA and meeting general eligibility requirements, you can receive between $740 and $7,395 per year for the 2024-25 academic year. Don't miss out on this opportunity to fund your education. 

Learn more by visiting the Federal Pell Grant section on the Federal Student Aid website.

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is available to U.S. Citizens or Eligible Non-Citizens who complete the FAFSA and meet general eligibility requirements.

Designed to support students with the highest financial need, priority for this grant is given those who also qualify for the maximum Pell Grant and meet other institutional requirements. 

With award amounts ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 per year, the FSEOG helps fund your educational expenses. Note: Students in the New Resource program are not eligible for this grant.

Explore more about this valuable opportunity by visiting the FSEOG section of the Federal Student Aid website.

The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) offers the Cal Grant A and Cal Grant B to California residents attending in-state colleges and universities. These grants are available to U.S. Citizens and Eligible Non-Citizens as well as AB540/DACA students.

All California residents are required to apply for these valuable grants to help meet their educational expenses. To learn more about how Cal Grants can support your education, visit the Cal Grant Programs section of CSAC’s website.

Eligibility

All Cal Grant students must meet general eligibility requirements, meet the yearly income and asset requirements set by CSAC, as well as specific GPA requirements. Visit CSAC’s website for specific details on each program.

How to Apply

Prospective first-year students: Submit a FAFSA or Dream Act as well as a GPA Verification form to CSAC by March 2. Most California high schools will automatically complete the GPA Verification form on behalf of their students. Please check with your high school counselor regarding the GPA requirement.

Prospective transfer/New Resource students: Submit a FAFSA or Dream Act and check that current college or university submits college GPA to CSAC by March 2.

Current/returning students: Submit a FAFSA or Dream Act by March 2. Pitzer will automatically submit grade information to CSAC for all students enrolled in the spring who are expected to return in the fall.

*For the 2024-25 academic year, the March 2 deadline was extended to May 2*

Amount

Cal Grant A: Eligible students who attend Pitzer receive Cal Grant A funds for up to four years. For the 2024-25 academic year, the Cal Grant A award is $9,358. Funding is available for up to four years. 

Cal Grant B: Eligible students who attend Pitzer receive a Cal Grant B Access Award for up to four years. After the first-year, students will also receive a tuition grant for up to three years. For the 2024-25 academic year, the Cal Grant B Access is $1,648 and the tuition grant is $9,358.

*Funding levels may change each year without warning due to state funding.*

Veteran students and their dependents can take full advantage of their educational benefits at Pitzer! With support from various U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (USDVA) programs and Pitzer's Yellow Ribbon program, a Pitzer education becomes an affordable option for veterans and their families.

In collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Pitzer's Yellow Ribbon program assists veterans and their dependents by paying for tuition and fees.

Eligibility

Veterans or their designated transferees (spouse or dependent children) may receive funding for the Yellow Ribbon program if they meet the following criteria under the Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) with 100% eligibility:

• Completed at least 36 months of active duty service with an honorable discharge.
• Completed at least 30 continuous days of service on or after September 11, 2001, with a discharge or release due to a service-connected disability.
• Dependents are eligible for Transfer of Entitlement based on the parent's veteran service.

Please note:

• Veterans with less than 100% eligibility under the Post 9/11 GI Bill are not eligible for the Yellow Ribbon program.
• Active-duty service members and their spouses are not eligible for this program.

Benefit Amount

For the 2024-25 academic year, the payment rates are up to $28,937.09 (national maximum). 

100% service eligibility & Yellow Ribbon Match

Veterans or their transferees with 100% service eligibility qualify for the maximum $28,937.09 in Post 9/11 GI Bill tuition benefits. The Yellow Ribbon program then covers any remaining tuition and fees not covered by the GI Bill.

Less than 100% service eligibility

Veterans or their transferees with less than 100% service eligibility are only eligible for Post 9/11 GI Bill tuition benefits. The benefit amount is calculated by multiplying the national maximum ($28,937.09) by the percentage of service eligibility.  

Applying for Financial Aid

Veterans or their transferees who qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon program may also qualify for other financial aid. Veteran benefits and the Yellow Ribbon program cover tuition and fees only; students needing additional assistance with housing, food, books, and supplies are encouraged to apply for need-based financial aid. Complete all financial aid requirements to be considered for additional federal, state and Pitzer need-based aid.

Certificate of Eligibility

First, request a Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs and submit it to the Office of Financial Aid. Then, Pitzer's school certifying official in the Registrar’s Office, Daniel Franco, will submit the funding request to the VA. For more details, visit the Veteran’s Education Benefits section on the Registrar’s website.

Reporting

Students who receive outside scholarships or tuition benefits are required to report these sources of aid to the Office of Financial Aid. Please complete our online Outside Scholarship Notification form to report your outside scholarships to our office.

Federal regulations require that all outside scholarships or tuition benefits be coordinated and incorporated with your Pitzer financial aid package. Outside scholarships or tuition benefits are not added on top of your current financial aid package and do not replace your parent contribution.

Impact to Aid

To limit the impact of your outside scholarship or tuition benefit to your existing financial aid package, the Office of Financial Aid will first reduce your student summer earnings contribution (if one was assessed), followed by your need-based student loans, followed by your work-study.

If the amount of your outside scholarship or tuition benefit exceeds your summer contribution, need-based loan, and work-study, an adjustment will be made to your Pitzer Scholarship. Before we adjust your Pitzer Scholarship, we may reach out to you to see if you have additional educational expenses that may be covered by your outside scholarship or tuition benefit.

If you received a scholarship check and it was made payable to you, please report this scholarship directly to the Office of Financial Aid via email with the name of the organization and the amount awarded to you for the academic year. Checks made payable to you should be given to the Office of Financial Aid so we can pay the funds to your student account. Checks not made payable to you should be made payable to Pitzer College and sent to:

Pitzer College
Office of Financial Aid
1050 N. Mills Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711

Checks made payable to Pitzer will be disbursed to your student account after we have received the check from the organization.

If you require proof of enrollment to receive your scholarship funds, please contact the Office of the Registrar.

If you require a copy of your financial aid offer to receive your scholarship funds, you can download a pdf copy through your MyCampus2 Portal - simply go to the FinAid tab and click on Awards.

If you require a copy of your bill to receive your scholarship funds, log into CASHNet and download a copy of your billing statement.

If you’re interested in applying for outside scholarships, here are a few search engines:

• Fastweb!

• BigFuture

• Scholarships.com

• College Resource Network

• Cappex

• Unigo