Organizer Information
Pitzer College is a private liberal arts college and a member of The Claremont Colleges in California. Its interdisciplinary undergraduate curriculum includes programs across the arts, humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and interdisciplinary studies. Relevant creative fields include Art and Media Studies, with Media Studies incorporating film, video, photography, documentary, digital media, and related practices.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Pitzer College
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Academic Fields: Art, Media Studies, Film, Photography, Visual Arts, Digital/Electronic Media
- Relevant Programs: Art; Media Studies; Media Studies Combined Major; Media Studies Minor
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Early Decision I, Early Decision II, Regular Decision
- Application Deadline: International applicants — 15 November (ED I); 6 January (ED II and Regular Decision)
- Start of Studies: Fall 2027; classes begin 30 August 2027
- Application Fee: $70
- Tuition: $70,184 for 2026–27
- Funding: Need-based financial aid and institutional scholarships are available; international applicants may apply for need-based aid.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Pitzer's Art major offers Studio Art and Critical Studies tracks and includes work in ceramics, painting, photography, sculpture, art history, research, and critical practice.
- Media Studies offers Film/Video, Digital/Electronic Media, and Critical Studies tracks. The curriculum connects film, video, documentary, video art, photography, digital media, sound, and other media practices with disciplines including art, anthropology, sociology, cultural studies, and visual arts.
- The programs are interdisciplinary, and Media Studies may be pursued as a major, combined major, or minor. Pitzer does not state a program-specific portfolio requirement for these majors on the reviewed admissions pages.
General Eligibility
- Pitzer admits first-year applicants, transfer applicants, and non-traditional applicants through separate admission routes. International students are eligible to apply. First-year applicants are students currently in high school or recent high-school graduates who have not enrolled at another college. Transfer applicants who have studied at another higher-education institution follow the transfer route
- For international transfer applicants, Pitzer requires a credentials evaluation report for transferable credits.
- Pitzer evaluates first-year applications holistically, considering academic preparation, leadership, extracurricular activities, work experience, community involvement, and alignment with its institutional values.
Language Requirements
- International applicants whose first language is not English must submit an accepted English-language test or receive a waiver.
- IELTS: minimum 7.5
- TOEFL iBT: minimum 5.5 under the post-January 2026 scoring scale; minimum 105 for tests taken before January 2026
- Duolingo English Test: minimum 135
- Pitzer does not accept alternate tests as substitutes, although certain other evidence may be submitted when requesting an English-language test waiver. Waivers are considered individually.
Application Fee
| Applicant Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| First-Year / International | $70 |
| Eligible applicants requesting a fee waiver | Fee waiver available |
The $70 fee or a fee-waiver request is listed as required for first-year and international applications.
Tuition
| Study Level | Applicant Type | Tuition | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, full-time | All students | $70,184 | Annual, 2026–27 | $312 student activity fee |
- The published 2026–27 full-time tuition is $70,184 and the required student activity fee is $312. Housing and food are additional costs.
- International undergraduate students are also required to maintain health insurance and cannot waive Pitzer's student health insurance coverage. The 2026–27 annual student plan rate is $3,219.
Funding & Financial Support
- Pitzer states that it meets 100% of students' demonstrated financial need. Need-based scholarships are available to domestic and international students.
- International applicants seeking need-based aid must indicate their intention to seek financial aid on the Common Application and complete Pitzer's Pitzer International Financial Aid Application (PIFAA) after submitting the admission application. They should not submit the FAFSA or CSS Profile. Pitzer states that international students who indicate that they do not seek need-based aid at admission cannot later change that status during enrollment.
University Services & Academic Support
- Pitzer provides faculty mentorship, research opportunities, academic support, writing support, career advising, internship and job resources, and fellowship guidance. Career Services also provides individualized advising and support for graduate-school and professional-school applications.
- Media Studies students have access to the Mosbacher/Gartrell Center for Media Experimentation and Activism, a professional post-production facility.
Application Requirements
International first-year applicants must submit:
- Common Application
- $70 application fee or fee-waiver request
- Pitzer Writing Supplement
- One teacher recommendation
- School/College Report
- Mid-Year Report
- Official transcripts
- English-language test score or approved waiver, when applicable
The Pitzer Writing Supplement requires one response of up to 650 words. An additional essay of up to 250 words is optional. Interviews are optional. SAT and ACT scores are not accepted during the current test-free cycle.
How to Apply?
- Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- Early Decision I Application Deadline: 15 November 2026
- Early Decision I Optional Interview Deadline: 15 November 2026
- Early Decision I Admission Notification: By 18 December 2026
- Early Decision II International Application Deadline: 6 January 2027
- Regular Decision International Application Deadline: 6 January 2027
- Early Decision II / Regular Decision Optional Interview Deadline: 19 December 2026
- Early Decision II Admission Notification: By 15 February 2027
- Regular Decision Admission Notification: By 1 April 2027
- Early Decision I Enrollment Fee Deadline: 15 January 2027
- Early Decision II Enrollment Fee Deadline: 1 March 2027
- Regular Decision Enrollment Fee Deadline: 1 May 2027
- Start of Fall 2027 Classes: 30 August 2027
Location
Pitzer College — Claremont, California, United States
Additional Details
- Pitzer's published admissions information distinguishes international deadlines from the general first-year deadline: the international admissions page lists 6 January for Early Decision II and Regular Decision, while the general first-year page lists 10 January. The international-specific dates are therefore used above for international applicants.
- For the 2027–28 application cycle, Pitzer plans to return to a test-optional policy; the college's test-free policy applies through the 2026–27 admission cycle.
- The 2027–28 tuition has not been published on the reviewed official tuition page; the financial figures above therefore use the currently published 2026–27 tuition and mandatory fee amounts rather than projecting future costs.