Admission to Pitzer

Instructions to Applicants

In keeping with its commitment to the individual, Pitzer College has developed a highly personalized approach to the selective admission process. The Admission Committee will review your application to determine your academic preparation, your commitment to extracurricular activities and your potential fit with the Pitzer community.

Your application should demonstrate the ways in which you feel you will benefit from, contribute to, and be challenged by Pitzer’s unique approach to undergraduate education. We are looking for students who exhibit strong academic abilities, maturity, and socially conscious independence. Because different people show and use their strengths in different ways, the Admission Committee does not expect essays to be answered in the same way, nor do we expect students who will benefit from Pitzer to have the same background, the same course work or the same culture.

Pitzer College adheres to the letter and spirit of the Statement of Principles of Good Practice of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling. Pitzer admits students of any race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, creed, handicap and national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the college. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, handicap or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, scholarships and loan programs, athletic and other college-administered programs or employment policies.

Campus Visits and Interviews

We strongly recommend that you visit the campus. We offer tours Monday-Friday at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Information sessions are offered at 9:00 a.m. and at 2:00 p.m. During the fall semester, we offer tours on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Reservations for an information session or tour can be made online.

In addition to visiting campus, we hope you will be able to schedule an interview with us. We offer four ways to complete an interview: 1) on-campus interview, 2) Skype interview, 3) phone interview, and 4) alumni interview. All four options carry the same weight. Please note that November 15 is the last day for interviews for Early Decision I candidates and December 15 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision candidates.

First-Year Admission

High School Preparation

Your best preparation for success at Pitzer is the completion of a rigorous college preparatory program. Academic challenge is important and you should maintain a rigorous course schedule through your senior year. Your studies should include four years of English (especially courses that emphasize writing), at least three years each of foreign language, mathematics and social, behavioral and natural sciences. We strongly recommend that you take advantage of honors and advanced placement courses offered at your school.

Application Process

Pitzer’s admission policy for first-year students provides applicants with greater flexibility in presenting application materials that accurately reflect their diverse academic abilities and potentials. The College is completely test-optional, providing students the opportunity to present application materials that accurately reflect their diverse academic talents and potential. Students can submit either the SAT or the ACT if they feel like their results best-represent their academic potential.  The admission committee makes no assumptions as to why some students choose to submit scores while others don’t.  All students are given equal consideration in the admission process.

Application Forms

Pitzer College is an exclusive user of the Common Application for first-year applicants. The application can be accessed at www.commonapp.org.  All application material must be submitted by the appropriate deadline.

Application Deadlines

There are three options for applying to Pitzer: Early Decision I by November 15, Early Decision II by January 1, and Regular Decision by January 1.

Early Decision

Students who have thoughtfully determined that Pitzer College is their first choice and who have superior academic records are invited to apply as Early Decision applicants. Early Decision is a binding agreement whereby applicants agree that if they are admitted to Pitzer, they will withdraw all other applications and not initiate new ones. In addition, applicants agree not to apply Early Decision to any other institution while applying Early Decision to Pitzer.

Early Decision I applicants must submit all required materials by November 15, which is also the deadline for optional interviews. Early Decision II applicants must submit all required materials by January 1, which is also the deadline for optional interviews. We will notify Early Decision I applicants of admission decisions by late December and Early Decision II applicants will be notified of admission decisions by February 15.

Regular Decision

Applicants for Regular Decision must submit all required application materials by January 1. Interviews for Regular Decision students are optional. Interviews must be completed by December 15.  Notification letters will be sent by April 1.

Application Fee

A $70 application fee or completed Common Application fee waiver required with each application. This fee is not refundable.

Deferring Entrance

Once admitted, students may be considered for deferral for a year to pursue non-academic goals. To hold a place, students must submit the commitment deposit by May 1. A letter explaining your gap year plans and requesting deferred entrance is also required.

Transfer Admission

We welcome transfer applicants from two- and four-year colleges. To be considered for transfer admission, candidates must have completed one or more semesters or two or more quarters of college credit prior to the application deadline. Applicants who have completed at least 32 semester units or 48 quarter units in academic subjects may be reviewed without high school transcripts. Standardized tests are not required from transfer applicants.

In assessing transfer candidates, the Admission Committee will pay particular attention to work done in college courses. Transfer students should complete any first-year writing courses required at their current institution prior to enrollment at Pitzer. Matriculated transfer students must complete at least two years of study at Pitzer in order to earn a Pitzer College degree. Students who wish to transfer from two-year colleges may do so before they have completed their A.A. degrees. However, we strongly suggest that prospective transfer students take courses from a broad range of subjects including the humanities, math, social science and science. Pitzer recommends that California community college students complete courses within the Inter-Segmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). Information regarding the IGETC course series can be obtained from the counseling center at your community college.

Interviews for transfer students are not required, but are recommended. Interviews must be completed by the admission deadlines.

Application Forms

Pitzer College accepts the Common Application as its only application for admission for transfer students. All sections are required. Due to the high volume of applications that we receive, we are not always able to send reminders regarding which pieces of your application have been received or not. Therefore, it is your responsibility to ensure that your application is completed by the appropriate deadline. You must also submit transcripts of all colleges/universities attended. If you have completed less than 32 semester units or 48 quarter units, you are required to submit your high school transcript, or GED scores.

Application Deadline

To be considered for fall semester, transfer applicants must submit all required application materials by April 1. Notification letters will be sent by May 13 and commitment deposits are due by June 15. For spring semester, you must submit all required application materials by October 10th. Notification letters will be sent by November 13 and commitment deposits are due by December 10.

Application Fee

A $70 application fee or completed Common Application fee waiver required with each application. This fee is not refundable.

New Resources Admission

Pitzer 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.

The application process for the New Resources program varies slightly from the regular admission procedure. Students must complete two essays; send transcripts of all college work completed; submit two references from people who can attest to their skills, motivation and readiness for college-level work; and must complete an on- campus interview by April 1. The New Resources program is only open to students who are least 23 years of age and only enrolls students for the fall semester. New Resources candidates are strongly encouraged to provide recent academic records for a more accurate admission assessment.  Coursework that reflects a liberal arts curriculum and/or work that fulfills requirements for an Associates of Arts or Science, would be most appropriate. 

Application Deadline

To be considered for fall semester you must submit all required materials by April 1 Notification letters will be sent by May 12 and commitment deposits are due by June 15

Application Fee

A $70 application fee or a request for fee waiver is required with each application.This fee is not refundable. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Pitzer College.

International Students

Pitzer College is committed to the goals of international education and welcomes applications from international students.  International students use the same application as domestic students. In addition to the other required credentials, international students may need to demonstrate English proficiency by submitting their results from either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). We require the IELTS or TOEFL from students whose native language is not English AND who have not studied for at least three years at a high school for which English is the language of instruction.

A minimum score of 7 on the IELTS or 95 IBT on the TOEFL is required for regular admission. Students who are qualified for admission to Pitzer in all ways except English proficiency and who have achieved an IELTS score of at least 6.5 or a TOEFL score of at least 70 IBT are eligible for the Pitzer International Scholars Program. You can learn more about the ISP program at www.pitzer.edu/admission/ischolars.

Pitzer College is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students and will issue a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) to all accepted students. Federal law requires that all international students present proof to the College and to the consular officer to whom they apply for a visa that they have sufficient funds to pay the full cost of their education in the United States. Pitzer College offers financial aid to international applicants who require financial assistance in order to attend.  Because limited financial resources are available, Pitzer will only be able to offer financial aid to a small group of international students.  All international applications who would like to be considered for financial aid must indicate on the Common Application that they are seeking financial aid. Regardless of whether they are seeking financial aid, international students must submit the International Student Certification of Finances to the Office of Admission.  In addition, international students must complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE online by the published deadlines.

Admission and Financial Aid Calendar

Deadline for Early Decision 1 applicants to submit their admission and financial aid applications.  Students applying for financial aid must submit the FAFSA, PROFILE and tax statements.

College Fees

Comprehensive Fees for Students $ 68,500

This fee covers tuition fees, room and board for the year, as well as various activities and events available to Pitzer students at no charge. It does not include the cost for books, supplies, travel, a single room, or room and board during vacation periods. This comprehensive fee contains the following charges.

Payment Schedules

College bills are payable in advance according to the schedules specified below. All checks should be made payable to Pitzer College.

Miscellaneous Fees include, but are not limited to, the following:

Personal & Other Miscellaneous Expenses

Personal expenses will vary from student to student. For full-time students, the typical amount is about $2,000. $1,000 for books and supplies and $1,000 for personal expenses.
Note: Travel expenses & medical insurance are not included.

College Bills

No student whose account is not current will be permitted to enroll or receive transcripts. Seniors must settle all college bills by April 30^th  in order to receive their official transcript reflecting their degree.

If an account with a Pitzer College Payment Plan is terminated because of delinquency, that balance of the account becomes due and payable immediately to the College.

No former student with a delinquent account will be issued an academic transcript. A cashier’s check or money order is required to pay a delinquent account for a student no longer enrolled at Pitzer College for the transcript to be released. A student’s account is due in full within thirty (30) days after leaving the College. If the account is not paid or arrangements made to pay, the account will be referred to a collection agency. If the College assigns an overdue account for collection, the College retains the right to withhold the transcript until payment is made on the full amount due, whether payment is made to a collection agency or to the College. Any previous semester and all new semester charges will be due and payable in full at the beginning of the semester by cashier’s check or money order only.

Delinquent Accounts

No student whose account is not current will be permitted to enroll or receive transcripts. Seniors must settle all college bills by April 30^th  in order to receive their official transcript reflecting their degree.

If an account with a Pitzer College Payment Plan is terminated because of delinquency, that balance of the account becomes due and payable immediately to the College.

No former student with a delinquent account will be issued an academic transcript. A cashier’s check or money order is required to pay a delinquent account for a student no longer enrolled at Pitzer College for the transcript to be released. A student’s account is due in full within thirty (30) days after leaving the College. If the account is not paid or arrangements made to pay, the account will be referred to a collection agency. If the College assigns an overdue account for collection, the College retains the right to withhold the transcript until payment is made on the full amount due, whether payment is made to a collection agency or to the College. Any previous semester and all new semester charges will be due and payable in full at the beginning of the semester by cashier’s check or money order only.

Returned Payments

If a check or electronic payment (ACH) submitted for an account is returned unpaid, a $25 returned item fee is assessed. The account becomes delinquent if payment by cashier’s check, cash or money order is not received within ten (10) days of notification of check return.   If payment is not received by the tenth (10th) day, an additional $50 late fee will be assessed. If more than one payment in a semester is returned, payment of the account balance must then be made by cashier’s check or money order.

Tuition Refund Policies

Formal Withdrawal or Leave of Absence (LOA)

Students who withdraw or take a leave of absence during the semester may be eligible for a pro-rata refund, depending upon the time of the withdrawal. Students must give written notification to the Registrar of their decision to withdraw or take a leave of absence and complete the formal withdrawal or leave of absence procedures in order to be eligible for any refunds.

Tuition, room and board charges, scholarships, and grants will be prorated based on the number of days a student is registered at Pitzer College, up to the sixty percent point of the semester. After that point, a student is no longer eligible for refunds.

Change of Status
Students who change from full-time to part-time status, during the first 10 class days of the semester, will be refunded the full difference between the two costs. No adjustments will be made after the 10th day, unless a student completely withdrawals.

Readmission to Pitzer

If a student wishes to return to Pitzer after being withdrawn from the college, they will need to apply for readmission during the specified application periods. The deadlines are October 10^th for spring admission and April 1^st for fall admission. A Readmission Application is available online on the Admission website. Along with the evaluation by the Admission office, Admissions consults independently with the Academic Standards Committee (ASC) and the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) to determine if the student is eligible to return to Pitzer College. In order to return, students must be in good academic, disciplinary, and financial standing. If readmitted, the Academic Standards Committee or Office of Student Affairs may define the probationary terms under which the student may continue enrollment. Students who fail to meet the terms of probation following readmission normally will be dismissed from the College.

Financial Aid

Pitzer College’s financial aid program supports the goals of the admission program: to bring to the campus a student body of quality and diversity. During the  2016-2017 academic year, approximately 46% of the Pitzer student body received some form of financial assistance.

Financial aid at Pitzer College is based on financial need and provides financial assistance to those students whose family financial resources cannot meet Pitzer’s cost of attendance. To be eligible for financial aid from Pitzer College, a student must be admitted to or regularly enrolled in a program leading to a Pitzer degree. The student may not owe a refund on a grant or loan received for attendance at any institution. The student must submit the appropriate financial aid applications; must apply on their own for any state or private awards for which they may be eligible; and must provide all required information by the required deadlines. Students seeking a second bachelor’s degree are not eligible for institutional aid from Pitzer College.

Costs

The basic budget for an on-campus student for the 2017-2018 academic year listed below does not include the cost of travel to the campus.

In addition, there is a $639 fee per semester for a single room (total single room cost for 2017-2018 is $10,656).

Financial aid is available for students who wish to participate in Pitzer study abroad. Students may apply a portion of their financial aid eligibility to the Summer Health Program in Costa Rica, Vietnam and Brazil . Financial aid is not available for external summer study abroad programs not offered through Pitzer College.

Financial aid awards do not generally cover any lab course or P.E. fees, course overload fees, single room fees, vehicle registration fees, or any other miscellaneous fees not included in the budget listed above. Further, financial aid to New Resources students will not exceed the cost of tuition and fees, or any needed part thereof. 

How to Apply

All new students who are admitted to Pitzer and demonstrate financial need are offered financial aid to meet their need, provided that they have completed the required applications by the appropriate deadline and meet eligibility requirements. It is important to note that the financial aid deadline may be different from the admission application deadline.

First Year Applicants

All domestic applicants seeking need based financial aid are requested to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for federal aid and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE(PROFILE) to apply for institutional financial aid. Pitzer must be listed as a recipient institution on both forms in order for the school to receive the application information. Applicants may apply on the web at www.fafsa. ed.gov; Pitzer’s Federal School Code for the FAFSA is 001172.Students complete the PROFILE online at www.collegeboard.com; Pitzer’s school code is 4619

Domestic, dependent students supplement the financial aid applications by submitting 2016 Federal Tax Returns, including all schedules, W-2 forms, and business returns for themselves and their parents. In some cases, students may be selected for the federal Verification process, in which case they may be required to provide additional documentation to the Financial Aid Office. All students applying for aid must complete the Scholarship Information Assignment Form, which is available electronically on the Financial Aid web page. The Scholarship Assignment Form collects information about student activities and interests, both academic and co-curricular that assists the Financial Aid Office is assigning endowed or annual scholarship funds.

International applicants must complete the PROFILE online at www.collegeboard.com and list Pitzer as a school recipient. Pitzer’s school code is 4619. International students must submit a translated copy of their parents’ 2015tax documents, including a wage statement from each employer in order for the Financial Aid Office to validate application information.

In situations where a dependent student’s parents are divorced, separated or living apart, the parent with whom the applicant lives should complete the FAFSA and/or the PROFILE form. The parent with whom the applicant does not reside should complete the Non-Custodial PROFILE.

Transfer Applicants

Transfer candidates applying for need based aid are requested to complete the FAFSA to apply for federal aid and the PROFILE to apply for institutional aid.  

Domestic, dependent students supplement the financial aid applications by submitting 2015 Federal Tax Returns, including all schedules, W-2 forms and business returns for themselves and their parents. In some cases, students may be selected for the federal Verification process, in which case they may be required to provide additional documentation to the Financial Aid Office. All students applying for aid must complete the Scholarship Information Assignment Form, which is available electronically on the Financial Aid web page. The Scholarship Assignment Form collects information about student activities and interests, both academic and co-curricular that assists the Financial Aid Office is assigning endowed or annual scholarship funds.

International applicants must complete the PROFILE online at www.collegeboard.com and list Pitzer as a school recipient. Pitzer’s school code is 4619. Dependent international students must submit a translated copy of their parents’ 2015 tax documents, including a wage statement from each employer in order for the Financial Aid Office to validate application information.

In situations where a dependent student’s parents are divorced, separated or living apart, the parent with whom the applicant lives should complete the FAFSA and the PROFILE form. The parent with whom the applicant does not reside should complete the Non-Custodial PROFILE.

New Resources Applicants

Students applying to the New Resources Program need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for federal aid and the PROFILE to apply for institutional aid. For code numbers and other instructions see the First Year Applicant section.

Domestic, independent students supplement the financial aid applications by submitting 2015 Federal Tax Returns, including all schedules, W-2 forms, and business returns for themselves and their spouse. In some cases, students may be selected for the federal Verification process, in which case they may be required to provide additional documentation to the Financial Aid Office. All students applying for aid must complete the Scholarship Information Assignment Form, which is available electronically on the Financial Aid web page. The Scholarship Assignment Form collects information about student activities and interests, both academic and co-curricular that assists the Financial Aid Office is assigning endowed or annual scholarship funds.

International, independent applicants must complete the PROFILE online at www.collegeboard.com and list Pitzer as a school recipient. Pitzer’s CSS code number is 4619. International students must submit a translated copy of their 2015 tax documents, including a wage statement from each employer in order for the Financial Aid Office to validate application information.

Returning Students

Domestic students applying to renew their aid, or current students applying for the first time, should submit the FAFSA and the PROFILE applications no later than April 15.

Dependent, domestic applicants for financial aid need to submit a copy of their parent’s 2015 federal income tax return, including all schedules, attachments, W-2 forms and business returns, by April 15. Students should know that once they have entered Pitzer College as dependent student, the College will not recognize a change to independent status in awarding college aid. In general, no applicant under the age of 24 is considered to be independent of parental support for purposes of institutional aid. For purposes of determining federal financial aid eligibility, Pitzer uses the dependency criteria listed on the FAFSA.

Independent domestic applicants for financial aid need to submit a copy of their 2015 federal income tax return, including all schedules, attachments, W-2 forms and business returns for themselves and their spouse by April 15.

International, dependent students applying to renew their aid should submit the PROFILE application no later than April 15 and submit a copy of their and their parent’s translated 2015 income tax return and wage statements by April 15. Students should know that once they have entered Pitzer College as a dependent student, the College will not recognize a change to independent status in awarding college aid. In general, no applicant under the age of 24 is considered to be independent of parental support for purposes of institutional aid. International students who are admitted to Pitzer without financial aid will not be able to change their status and seek financial aid in subsequent years.

Independent international applicants for financial aid need to submit a copy of their 2016 income tax return (federal or foreign), including all schedules, attachments, W-2 forms, foreign wage statements and business returns for themselves and their spouse by April 15.

How Need is Determined

At Pitzer, financial aid is viewed as supplementary to the resources of the student and his/her family. Using the information provided on the FAFSA and the PROFILE, the Financial Aid Office will determine the amount that the family is expected to provide. The calculation of the family contribution takes into consideration the family’s income and assets, taxes paid, reasonable living costs, medical/dental expenses, family size and the number of children enrolled in undergraduate college programs, as well as other expenses unique to the family. Each student is expected to use a part of his/her accumulated savings and to contribute approximately $900- $1,850 for books and personal expenses. The student’s financial need is calculated by subtracting the family contribution from the total cost of attendance, which includes tuition, fees, room, board, book and personal expenses and travel.

Need based aid is not renewed automatically. Each student is responsible for reapplying each year by submitting the FAFSA, PROFILE and supplemental tax documents by the posted deadlines.

The Financial Aid Office reviews financial need annually, makes adjustments when necessary to reflect changes in the financial need of students, the costs of attending Pitzer, and available resources.

Pitzer will require a student to assume increased loan amounts and/or employment- that is, increased self-help-as the student progresses toward the degree. To be eligible for renewal of financial aid, a student must be eligible to re-enroll as determined by the College’s Academic Standards Committee and must be making satisfactory academic progress.

First year students are eligible to receive institutional financial aid for eight semesters. Transfer and New Resource students are eligible for a pro-rated amount of financial aid eligibility based on the number of courses that are transferred to Pitzer College and accepted for credit by the Registrar’s Office. Transfer and New Resource students will be notified of the amount of financial aid eligibility during their first semester at Pitzer. If the student requires more time to complete their degree than outlined, the student is responsible to finance the cost of education including tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies.

Sources and Types of Financial Aid

Financial aid funds at Pitzer are derived from three sources: institutional, state and federal funds. A student’s eligibility for federal funds is determined by the information provided on the FAFSA. The amount of Federal funds awarded to a student is dependent on specific program funding.

All scholarship and loan funds are credited to the student’s account and are divided equally between the first and second semester. Employment funds are paid directly to the student by check or direct deposit and it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that college costs are being met.

Pitzer Scholarship: Each year, the Board of Trustees of the College allocates a certain portion of the total budget to be used for Pitzer Scholarships. These scholarships are based solely on financial need and are administered by the Financial Aid Office. The FAFSA and the PROFILE are both required to be completed on time to be considered for need-based Pitzer Scholarship.

Cal Grant A: All California residents applying for financial aid must apply for the Cal Grant, administered by the California Student Aid Commission, by completing the FAFSA and submitting a GPA Verification Form through their high school. The Cal Grant application deadline is March 2. The Cal Grant A maximum award varies between $9,084 and $9,223 depending on the student’s entry year into the Cal Grant program. A student that is enrolled less than full time will receive a pro-rated amount of Cal Grant A funding. The Cal Grant A maximum award may vary from year to year based on state funding.

Cal Grant B: These awards, administered by the California Student Aid Commission, are aimed at high-potential students from low-income/disadvantaged backgrounds.  To be considered for the Cal Grant B, students from California must complete the FAFSA by March 2 and are required to file a GPA Verification form by March 2. These grants have two components to the award. The student receives a Cal Grant B supplement of $1,656 for all four years for to assist with books and supplies. In addition, beginning in the student’s sophomore year, the student receives a tuition grant of $9,084. Eligibility for Cal Grants is determined by the California Student Aid Commission. Students who are eligible for the Cal Grant B may complete an Access Authorization form to allow the College to apply the Access funding to charges on the student account. Student authorization is voluntary and is valid for the duration of enrollment at Pitzer. A student may cancel the authorization of payment at any time up until the time the funds are disbursed to the student account.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants: Awards from these federal funds may range from $200 to $4,000 and are made to students with exceptional financial need. These awards are administered by the Financial Aid Office.

Federal Pell Grant: These awards, administered by the U.S. Department of Education through participating institutions, provide a financial aid foundation for students with high need. For the 2017-18 academic year, the maximum award is $5,920 for a full time student. The amount of the award is based on a determination of the student’s financial aid eligibility, the cost of attending Pitzer and a payment schedule issued to all approved educational institutions by the U.S. Department of Education.

Trustee Scholarship: The Trustee Scholarship is a merit based scholarship that is awarded to first year students at the time of admission. The Trustee Scholarship is a $5,000 annual scholarship that is renewable for up to four years. To be eligible for renewal, the student must be in good academic standing, enrolled at least half time and making satisfactory academic progress. The minimum cumulative GPA the student must maintain is 2.0.

Academic Achievement Scholarship: The Academic Achievement Scholarship is a one-time merit scholarship that is awarded to entering first year students. The award is not renewable and the amount of the award can vary from year to year based on funding availability.

Loans

Loans are regarded as a means of enabling a student to invest some of the student’s future earnings in their education. Pitzer College requires students, as they progress toward their degree, to assume larger loans each year, recognizing the student has greater personal investment with progression through school. The average federal loan indebtedness of students who began their enrollment at Pitzer as first year students and graduated in May 2016 was approximately $21,569.

All students who borrow while at Pitzer are required to attend an exit interview before leaving the College. This is a requirement before graduation and for those students who take a leave of absence or withdraw. Exit interview sessions are scheduled each spring, or an individual appointment may be made by a student leaving the College at the end of the fall semester.

Federal Direct Student Loans: The Federal Direct Student Loan program provides both subsidized and unsubsidized loans to students. Those students who demonstrate financial need qualify for a subsidized loan. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest while the student is enrolled in an eligible program. Students who do not qualify for a subsidized loan will accrue interest on the loan during the time they are enrolled. Repayment of the principal for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans begins six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. During the 2017-2018 academic year, the interest rate for subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans is 4.45% All Federal Direct loans are subject to an origination fee. For loans disbursed prior to October 1, 2017 the origination fee is 1.069%  and loan disbursed on or after October 1, 2017 1.066 Annual loan limits for dependent students are as follows:

Annual loan limits for independent students are as follows:

In addition, dependent students whose parents apply for and are denied a Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan due to negative credit history may be eligible to borrow an additional unsubsidized Federal Direct student loan, in addition to the annual loans for dependent students published in the above chart. First and second year students may borrow an additional $4,000 and third and fourth year students may borrow an additional $5,000 per year.

Total federal loan indebtedness for undergraduate students may not exceed $31,000.

Federal Perkins Loans: These federal long-term loans are awarded by the Financial Aid Office to students with exceptional need. Loans may range up to $5,500 per year, with a cumulative four-year maximum of $27,500. No interest is charged while the student is in school. The interest rate during the repayment period is fixed at 5%. Repayment of principal and interest begins nine months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time and, depending on the amount borrowed, may be extended for up to 10 years.

Due to regulatory changes, previous Federal Perkins Loan borrowers with an outstanding balance on the Perkins Loan from Pitzer College may be eligible to borrow from this fund only after they have been awarded all Federal Direct Subsidized Loans that they are eligible for, and have remaining federal need. New Federal Perkins Loan borrowers who have not previously borrowed a Perkins Loan from Pitzer College may be eligible to borrow from this fund only after they have been awarded all Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans that they are eligible for, and have remaining federal need.

Pitzer College Loans: These are long-term loans awarded by the Financial Aid Office to students who meet the eligibility criteria. To be eligible the student must be a permanent resident or US citizen, a graduate from a California high school and meet the income qualifications, and apply for institutional aid by the published deadlines. Depending upon fund availability, loans may range up to $10,000 per year. No interest is charged on these loans and repayment of the principal begins six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at Pitzer College. There are no deferment or forbearance privileges for the Pitzer College Loan.

Employment: Pitzer College participates in the Federal Work-Study Program. Awards are made to students based on financial need and available funding. Under this program, students work for the College or for an approved off-campus employer. Off-campus jobs are available in public and private nonprofit organizations and community service work is strongly encouraged. International students who have been awarded an Institutional Work Study award may work on campus after they have applied for a social security number.

Emergency Student Loan Fund: Short-term, no-interest emergency student loans are available to students faced with unexpected emergencies. Traditional undergraduate students may borrow up to $500 for 30 days if they are able to verify their ability to repay the loan. Students admitted through the New Resources program may borrow up to $1,000 per semester. Repayment is expected within 30 days.

Students who need a small, short-term emergency student loan should contact the Financial Aid Office. A student need not receive financial aid to qualify for an emergency student loan. The funds that make these loans possible represent Pitzer College’s portion of a gift to the Independent Colleges of Southern California made by First Interstate Bank of California.

Long-Term Loans for Parents

Federal PLUS Loans: The Federal PLUS Program permits parents to borrow as much as the full cost of attendance, minus any financial aid, each year. Federal PLUS Loan borrowers do not have to demonstrate financial need but must file a FAFSA application and must not have any adverse credit history to be approved for the loan. Repayment of principal and interest normally begins within 60 days. (Some loan servicers may offer deferments of payments while the student is enrolled although interest continues to accrue.) The interest rate is 7.0%. Theorigination fee  ranges between 4.272-4.292% that is deducted from the total loan prior to payment.  For more information about this program or an application, contact the Financial Aid Office.

Merit Based Aid

Pitzer College offers a merit based Trustee Scholarship that is awarded to first year students at the time of admission. The Trustee Scholarship is a $5,000 annual scholarship that is renewable for up to four years. To be eligible for renewal, the student must be in good academic standing, enrolled at least half time and making satisfactory academic progress. A first time first year student will be selected to receive the Academic Achievement Scholarship each year. The award is a one time scholarship and the amount of the award will vary based on the performance of the endowed fund.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

The following constitutes Pitzer College’s policy on satisfactory academic progress.

Maximum time frame to earn the degree: At Pitzer, the maximum time frame for federal financial aid recipients to receive a degree cannot exceed 150% of the published length of the program measured in courses attempted. The maximum time frame for students is 48 attempted courses (32 X 150% = 48). Students will forfeit their eligibility to participate in federal financial aid programs after 6 years of full-time enrollment (4 years X 150% = 6 years).

A student entering Pitzer as a first-time, full-time freshman is eligible for eight full- time semesters of financial aid in which to complete the degree. As expressed in years, this means that students are normally expected to complete their degree by the end of 4 years of full-time study. Students who require additional semesters to complete their degree are eligible for federal aid but not for state or institutional aid administered by Pitzer College.

Financial aid eligibility for transfer students is limited to the number of full-time semesters remaining for successful completion of the Pitzer degree after transfer credit is awarded. This determination is made during the transfer student’s first semester of enrollment at Pitzer and the student will be notified in writing by the Financial Aid Office.

Financial aid eligibility for New Resources students is limited to the number of courses remaining for successful completion of the Pitzer degree. Any semester in which the student is charged full-time tuition will be considered to use four courses of the student’s financial aid eligibility. The determination of the number of courses of eligibility is made during the New Resources student’s first semester of enrollment at Pitzer and the student will be notified in writing by the Financial Aid Office.

 Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Pitzer’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy must specify the quantitative (time- based) and qualitative (grade-based) requirements for a student to be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress. The quantitative requirement is the pace at which a student must progress through the educational program to ensure that the student will complete the program within the required time frame, and provides for measurement of the student’s progress at each evaluation, which will normally be at the end of each semester. The qualitative requirement is that, at the end of the second academic year, the student must have a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0.

Quantitative Standard (Number of courses attempted and completed)

For a full-time student at Pitzer to be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress, the student must complete a minimum of six courses at the end of two semesters, a total of fourteen courses after four semesters; a total of twenty-two courses after six semesters, and a total of thirty-two courses in order to receive the bachelor’s degree at the end of eight semesters.

A student is expected to complete four courses per semester to graduate in four years, and for satisfactory academic progress the minimum completion rates by semester are shown in the table below:

The percentage of normal completion is calculated by dividing the minimum course completion by the normal course completion. (For example, 6 courses completed/8 courses to advance grade level = 75% completion rate.)

Attempted courses are those courses for which the student was still officially enrolled after the last date to drop courses. Withdrawals showing as a W on the student’s academic transcript are counted as attempted courses. All courses count in calculating a student’s academic progress, including any for which the student did not receive financial aid.

Withdrawals: Grades of W are counted as courses attempted and count toward the maximum time frame.

Audited Courses: Students do not earn any academic credit for audited courses. They do not count in the calculation of “attempted courses.”

Repeated Courses: Academic policy at Pitzer states that if a student does not receive a passing grade for a course (no academic credit accepted), the course may be repeated for credit. Repeating a course does not remove the original course from the academic transcript. Both the grade for the original course and the repeated course will be posted and will calculate into the student’s grade point average (GPA). Both the original course and the repeated course will be considered as attempted in the calculation of “attempted courses” for purposes of determining satisfactory academic progress.

Pass/Fail Courses: Courses taken on a pass/fail basis count toward the total of attempted and completed courses.

Transfer Credit: Transfer credits from another institution accepted by Pitzer College are counted when measuring the maximum time frame to complete the degree. Pitzer does not accept for credit any transfer grades lower than C (2.0).

Double Majors and/or a Minor: Students who pursue a double major or a minor are expected to complete all degree requirements within the 32-course limit.

Qualitative Standards: (Grade Based-the quality of your performance) During the first four semesters of enrollment for a student entering as a first-year, full-time student, the qualitative standards for making progress will not be monitored by the Financial Aid Office but by the Academic Standards Committee in accordance with Pitzer’s policy. During the first four semesters, a student who is allowed to re-enroll and is placed on an Academic Standards Committee contract is eligible for financial aid and will be expected to meet the minimum standards outlined by the Academic Standards Committee for continued enrollment.

In accordance with federal regulations (sections 668.16(e), 668.32(f) and 668.34), a student must have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA by the end of the second year of enrollment to be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress for continued participation in federal aid programs. A student who does not achieve at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA will be ineligible to participate in federal, state, or institutional financial aid programs until this deficiency is corrected.

Students who are receiving financial aid while on an academic contract must resolve all incomplete grades before the Financial Aid Office can make a final determination that they have met the satisfactory academic progress guidelines.

Consequences of Failure to Make Satisfactory Academic Progress

The student’s record will be reviewed at the end of each semester to determine that the student is meeting both the qualitative and quantitative standards described above. However, the student has the first four semesters in which to attain a 2.0 GPA. If a student has reached the maximum number of attempted courses without earning a degree, the student is ineligible for further participation in federal, state, or institutional financial aid programs.

Federal regulations require that these standards apply to all students receiving financial aid, even to first-time aid applicants who have previously enrolled at Pitzer, or to those who have not been formally placed on probation.

A student who fails to meet the qualitative and/or quantitative standards will be assigned one of the following SAP Status designations.

Financial Aid Warning:

The first time a student fails to achieve either the quantitative or qualitative standard, the student will receive a “Financial Aid Warning” letter, which will re-mind him/her of the minimum academic requirements for receiving financial aid and will strongly encourage him/her to take advantage of academic services that are available to the student. A student will be eligible to receive federal, state, and institutional financial aid during this semester. The student will be notified that his/her records will be reviewed again at the end of the “warning” semester and that further action may be taken if there is not significant improvement during that semester. Students can only receive financial aid for one semester under this warning status. Students who fail to achieve satisfactory academic progress by the end of the Financial Aid Warning period are ineligible to receive further federal, state or institutional financial aid.

Right to Appeal:

A student has the right to appeal a satisfactory academic progress determination of ineligibility. An appeal must be filed within 30 days of notification that aid eligibility has been lost or 30 days after a semester begins (whichever comes first). The appeal must be made in writing to the Director of Financial Aid. The appeal may not be based on the student’s need for financial assistance or the student’s lack of knowledge that his/her aid was in jeopardy. An appeal is normally based on some extenuating situation or condition which prevented the student from passing more of the attempted courses or which necessitated withdrawal from classes or which led to failure to achieve a 2.0 GPA. Examples of possible extenuating circumstances include documented serious illness, severe injury, or death of a family member. A student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation (see below) if an academic plan is developed for the student that will ensure that the student is able to meet Pitzer’s satisfactory academic progress standards by a specified point in time. A student who does not have grounds for an appeal, or whose appeal is denied, may still be able to regain eligibility for future semesters by enrolling at Pitzer at his/her own expense-without  federal, state, or institutional financial assistance-and achieving satisfactory academic progress both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Appeal Form:

The appeal form is available at http://www.pitzer.edu/financial-aid/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/2014/07/Satisfactory_Academic_Progress_Request_for_Review.pdf

Appeal Approval: An appeal will be approved if it is determined that the student will be able to meet Pitzer’s satisfactory academic progress standard by the end of the subsequent semester; or an academic plan is developed for the student that will ensure that the student is able to meet Pitzer’s satisfactory academic progress standards by a specified point in time.

A student whose appeal is approved will receive aid on a conditional basis for one semester. The conditions will be outlined in the letter sent to the student approving the appeal. The Financial Aid Office will review the student’s record at the end of the semester to determine his/her status for the following semester. A student who fails to meet the conditions outlined in the individual letter during the conditional semester will not be able to submit a subsequent appeal.

Financial Aid Probation:

A student who receives a Financial Aid Warning and who still does not meet satisfactory progress standards may be placed on Financial Aid Probation after a successful appeal to reinstate eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid. Students will normally be allowed only one probationary semester during their academic program.

A student on financial aid probation will receive a separate letter that will outline the academic requirements the student must meet in order to receive aid the following semester. If the student on financial aid probation meets the terms of the probation, he/she will be eligible for federal financial aid in the next and subsequent semesters. The Financial Aid Office will review the record of a student who is on financial aid probation at the end of the semester. A student who does not meet the terms of the financial aid probation will lose eligibility for all federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.

Loss of Eligibility

A student who has lost eligibility to participate in federal, state, and institutional student aid programs for reasons of academic progress can regain that eligibility only by enrolling at Pitzer at his/her own expense and demonstrating that s/he is capable of completing a semester without any failures, incompletes or withdrawals and showing the ability to complete the degree requirements. The mere passage of time will not restore eligibility to a student who has lost eligibility for failure to make satisfactory academic progress.

Students who have been dismissed from Pitzer for academic reasons but who are subsequently readmitted are not automatically eligible to participate in federal, state, or institutional aid program and will be placed on financial aid warning. Admissions decisions are separate from funding decisions.

Notifications

Students who apply for admission and for financial aid will be notified of both decisions at the same time (first-year students by April 1; transfers by May 15; New Resources by June 15). Returning students who have applied on time will receive notification of new awards and renewals in June.

If a student receives financial aid from any other source after the FAFSA and PROFILE have been filed, or after the Financial Aid Office has made an offer of aid, the student must notify the Financial Aid Office in writing. An adjustment will then be made to the financial aid award so that the total financial aid award will not exceed financial need.

The Trustee Scholarship will be renewed for up to four years, provided the student is enrolled at least half time, remains in good academic standing and continues to make satisfactory academic progress.

Summer Session

Pitzer College offers a six-week summer session where students have the option to enrich their education in a rigorous academic atmosphere. Financial Aid is available to students who received need based financial aid during the spring semester preceding the summer session. Students are eligible for financial aid to assist with tuition costs for up to two courses during the summer; students who enroll in more than two courses will be responsible for tuition costs for the additional classes. Room and board costs are not covered through financial aid, but students may borrow educational loans to assist with living expenses if the student meets eligibility requirements.

Students are eligible for summer financial aid according to the following schedule:

High Need: Pitzer will cover 75% of the tuition costs for up to two courses

Moderate Need: Pitzer will cover 50% of the tuition cost for up to two courses

Low Need: No financial assistance is available

Financial Aid is not available for independent study courses during the summer term.

During the summer, Pitzer does not have a consortia agreement in place with the other Claremont Colleges, and as a result, financial aid is only available to Pitzer students who enroll in classes at Pitzer College. Financial Aid is not available for summer courses taken at the other Claremont Colleges.

Students who are seeking financial aid assistance for the summer session must submit the application for financial aid that is posted on the financial aid website during the spring semester.

Summer Study Abroad

Pitzer College offers summer study abroad programs in Costa Rica, Brazil and Vietnam.  If a student enrolls and is a recipient of financial aid meeting eligibility requirements, the student may receive financial aid to assist with the cost of the program, including tuition, fees, room and board.

When a student receives aid for a summer study abroad program, the student uses the equivalent of half a semester of financial aid (2 courses). The student is expected to be enrolled half time(2 courses) upon returning from the summer study abroad program for one semester, as each student is limited to only 8 semesters of institutional financial aid for entering first year students and a pro-rated equivalent for transfer and New Resource students.

Students who are seeking financial aid assistance for either summer study abroad program must submit the application for financial aid that is posted on the financial aid website during the spring semester and schedule an appointment to meet with a member of the Financial Aid Office prior to departure on the program.

Change in Enrollment

A student’s financial aid award may change when the student drops below full time enrollment status. The College defines full time enrollment as three three or more courses, and enrollment in fewer than three courses is defined as less than full time. Students may change their course enrollment during the first two weeks of the semester. After the last day to add courses, September 11 for Fall 2017 and January 29 for Spring 2018, the Financial Aid Office will review the number of courses each student is enrolled in. Students will be notified if their course load necessitates a change in their financial aid award. Students who plan to enroll in fewer than three courses in a semester must schedule an appointment with the Financial Aid Office to understand how this may impact financial aid eligibility.

Financial Aid will not make any changes to the financial aid award after these published dates. If a student adds a course after the published date, they will not be eligible for additional financial aid to cover the additional costs. In addition, if a student drops a class after the published date, their financial aid will not be adjusted to reflect a reduced level of course work.  

Leave of Absence or Withdrawal

Students who withdraw or take a leave of absence after the first day of the semester may receive credit against the semester’s fees.  For students receiving financial aid, Pitzer College uses the refund policies mandated by Federal regulation. Title IV aid consists of the following aid programs and will be returned in the following order: Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan, Subsidized Federal Direct Loan, Federal Direct PLUS loan, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, and other Title IV programs, other aid(state/institutional).

The amount of Title IV aid which must be returned is based on the percentage of “unearned” aid. This percentage is based on the amount of time completed in the semester and is calculated by dividing the total number of calendar days in the semester into the number of calendar days completed. The percentage of Title IV assistance to which the student is entitled (has “earned) is equal to this percentage of the semester.

First time students who receive Title IV financial aid and withdraw or take a leave of absence before the 60% point in the semester will have their refund calculated according to the Federal pro rata refund policy.

A student who finds it necessary to take a mid-semester leave or withdrawal should schedule an appointment with the Financial Aid Office to understand how will impact the financial aid award for the semester and subsequent semesters. Students who take a leave of absence or withdraw midway through the semester, and receive institutional aid will be considered to have used the equivalent of one semester of financial aid. Students are eligible for 8 semesters of financial aid, and a mid-semester leave or withdrawal may impact the student’s ability to receive necessary financial aid for additional semesters of coursework.

Students who take a leave of absence or withdraw from the College who have borrowed a Federal Direct Loan, Federal Perkins Loan or a Pitzer College Loan must complete an exit counseling session prior to leaving campus.