International Applicants
What you need to know when you apply to Pitzer College as an international student
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Application Checklist
| Common Application | Required |
| $70 App Fee or Fee Waiver Request | Required |
| Pitzer Writing Supplement (Common Application) | Required |
| Teacher Recommendations | One Required |
| School/College Report | Required |
| Mid-Year Report | Required |
| Official Transcripts | Required |
| English Language Test (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL, DuoLingo) | Required for Non-Native English Speakers |
| Interview | Optional |
| SAT or ACT Scores | Not Accepted |
Pitzer College has a test-free policy through fall 2025.
English Proficiency Tests
If English is not your first language, we ask that you show your English language skills.
You must submit one of the following:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet-Based Test (iBT)
- TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- DuoLingo Test (DET)
- English Language Test Waiver
You must submit official scores or be granted a waiver to apply. Pitzer does not accept alternate tests (e.g. paper-based TOEFL). However, you may include them in your English Language Test Waiver.
We require a minimum score of 106 IBT, 7.5 IELTS, or 135 DET.
If you score in the following range, you must take a two-course combination made for international students in your first semester:
- 100-105 IBT
- 7 IELTS
- 130 DET
If you qualify in all ways except English proficiency, you may be eligible for the International Scholars Program. You must:
- Achieve at least a 70 IBT, or 6.5 IELTS, or 115 DET
- Or submit an English Language Test Waiver. You must be notified that you will be considered for the International Scholars Program.
- Pitzer Accepts the TOEFL iBT Test.
- Institution Code: 4619
- TOEFL iBT minimum score: 106
- Register
Admission Interview
You can arrange the optional interview in two ways:
- Virtual interview with Pitzer admission staff or an alumni interview (if it’s available near you)
- Interview with InitialView for a Pitzer Admission staff member to review later
- Do not sign up for InitialView if you are doing an on-campus interview or are attending high school in the United States.
- Your InitialView interviewer will not be able to answer questions about Pitzer.
Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and British A-Level Credit
- No more than four AP and IB credits (combined) will be granted.
- Four credits may be granted for an IB diploma.
- Credit for exams may be awarded only for higher-level exams—with a score of at least five. Credit is given for a ratio of 4 semester units per exam and comparable scores on British A-Level exams.
- If certification diploma is not completed, individual courses or exams may receive credit.
- We will not award credit for subsidiary exams.
- IB credits apply toward the 32-course graduation requirement. You cannot use them to meet an educational objective requirement.
- Credit may be rescinded if you take courses that duplicate or significantly overlap the IB courses.
Financial Aid
Complete our Pitzer International Financial Aid Application (PIFAA) for need-based financial aid. Please do not fill out the CSS Profile or FAFSA. Learn more about your financial aid options.
International Applicant Type Information
Are you a current high school student? Or did you recently graduate but have not enrolled at another college? Learn more about the requirements and deadlines for first-year applicants.
Transfer applicants from higher education institutions outside of the U.S. must provide a report from a credentials evaluation service. This report provides an evaluation of credit transferable to Pitzer. You may use the following organizations:
- AACRAO International Education Services (IES)
- International Education Research Foundation
- World Education Services
Learn more about the requirements and deadlines for transfer applicants.
Admitted international students must submit a statement of financial responsibility. If you enroll and your native language is not English, we will evaluate your language skills when you arrive. We may place you in appropriate advanced English courses.
At Pitzer College, we recognize that many applicants may not have access to mentors or support networks to guide them through the college application process. Thoughtfully used, AI tools can be valuable resources in what can often be a complex and overwhelming journey. By providing support where it might otherwise be lacking, these tools can promote access and equity. When used ethically, AI can help level the playing field for students who may not have access to individualized guidance, reflecting our core value of social responsibility.
We believe that AI can be a meaningful aid in generating ideas and refining your thoughts as you work on your application, but the final submission should authentically reflect your own voice, experiences, and insights. Just as you wouldn’t submit content written by someone else, avoid copying and pasting AI-generated text directly into your application without making it your own. Instead, we encourage you to approach AI as you would any other collaborative resource—use it to brainstorm, edit, and polish your work.
If you choose to incorporate AI-based assistance, consider it a tool for enhancing your creative process. You might use it to help shape your responses to our essay prompts or to refine your activity descriptions in the Common Application. However, always ensure that the outcome genuinely represents you and your perspective. It’s crucial that your application remains a true reflection of your voice and personal story.
We recognize AI's role as a potential partner in your process, particularly if you do not have access to other forms of guidance. However, the integrity of your application—and its reflection of your own thoughts, efforts, and aspirations—should always come first.