Head-to-head comparison
California Lutheran University vs Pitzer College: which has better ROI?
Option A Thousand Oaks, CA
California Lutheran University
- Net price / year
- $30,109
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,712
- Payback
- 5.9 yrs
Option B Claremont, CA
Pitzer College
- Net price / year
- $34,191
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,512
- Payback
- 6.5 yrs
California Lutheran University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $120,436 in 5.9 years versus 6.5 years at Pitzer College, on median earnings of $68,712 vs $69,512 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California Lutheran University | Pitzer College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,109 | $34,191 |
| Total net cost | $120,436 | $136,764 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $68,712 | $69,512 |
| Median debt | $21,669 | $16,750 |
| Payback | 5.9 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $286,604 | $286,276 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, California Lutheran University or Pitzer College?
California Lutheran University, at $30,109 a year after aid versus $34,191 — a gap of $4,082 a year, or $16,328 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do California Lutheran University or Pitzer College graduates earn more?
Pitzer College graduates report a median $69,512 ten years after entry, $800 more than the $68,712 at California Lutheran University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, California Lutheran University or Pitzer College?
Pitzer College: its completers carry a median $16,750 in federal loans versus $21,669 at California Lutheran University, a difference of $4,919. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
83% of students finish at Pitzer College, against 70% at California Lutheran University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.