Pitzer College has blazed a trail apart from the rest among elite colleges in the United States. From its experimental pedagogical approach to its legacy of student activism, Pitzer has never been one to conform to expectations. Its admissions process is no exception, and as this blog will soon unpack, it’s looking like it’s getting easier to get into this member of the Claremont Consortium now than it was ten years ago. At most elite schools nationwide, this is far from the case. 

Whether it’s due to the increasing value placed on a degree from a highly selective college, the move towards test-optional testing policies at many major schools, or just a cultural shift towards more and more competition, acceptance rates are at an all-time low in the 2020s. But not at Pitzer! Don’t get us wrong, it’s still none too easy to get into this private liberal arts college located in Claremont, California. However, as comparable institutions like Pomona College experience record-low acceptance, Pitzer’s easing rates look remarkable.

Let’s have a look at the data over the last eleven years:

Pitzer College Acceptance Rate Over Eleven Years

Pitzer College Class Year	Overall Acceptance Rate
Class of 2029	Not Yet Released
Class of 2028	16.66%
Class of 2027	18.40%
Class of 2026	18.01%
Class of 2025	16.57%
Class of 2024	13.70%
Class of 2023	13.33%
Class of 2022	16.20%
Class of 2021	13.74%
Class of 2020	13.47%
Class of 2019	13.02%
Class of 2018	14.51%
Class of 2017	14.68%

The average applicant’s odds of being granted admission to Pitzer seemed to be on a downward trajectory from the 2012-13 admission cycle to the 2015-16 cycle when acceptance went from 14.68% to 13.74%. But the following year, for admission to the Class of 2022, 16.2% were granted admission, and since the Class of 2025, the rate has continued to hover in the high teens. Most recently, for admission to the Class of 2026, the rate clocked in at 16.66% — roughly 2% higher than it was a decade ago.

This might not sound like much of an increase, but it’s important to remember that acceptances reached all-time lows at comparable institutions during this same time period.

This trend is not so great news for Pitzer administrators, but prospective students should rejoice that it’s likely to get easier to get in each year. Still, a 17% acceptance rate is nothing to write off. And anyway, for all we know, Pitzer could experience a sudden increase in popularity next year that changes everything. Who knows — maybe students will be knocking down its door in a way they never have before!

Even Ivy Coach’s famously accurate crystal ball can’t predict Pitzer’s next acceptance rate with absolute precision. That’s why our Pitzer-bound clients enter the college admissions process with the utmost preparation — including the expert guidance of our team of former elite college admissions officers!

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Pitzer College Acceptance

Most of Pitzer’s applicants face rejection, but with Ivy Coach’s help, you can optimize your child’s odds of admission by harnessing the power of a singular hook. Your child’s singular hook is the wonderfully weird and particular way they distinguish themselves from all of the applicants who fall into the trap of the well-rounded approach. 

Pitzer College admissions officials are liable to turn down highly qualified applicants if they don’t instill any faith that they will take advantage of everything Pitzer offers. Well-rounded students, who have a broad range of interests and activities, often give the impression of someone unable to commit to any one thing and, therefore, unlikely to do much with their four years on campus. In contrast, Ivy Coach’s applicants with singular hooks — those with a unique passion or talent — do the opposite. Admissions officers want to root for the applicant who will change the world in their singular way!

To get started, fill out our complimentary consultation form and we’ll be in touch with an outline of our services.