Resources For Current Students

Financial aid recipients who study abroad for the semester through a Pitzer approved program are eligible to receive financial aid during their abroad semester.

In general, students who study abroad are eligible to receive the same level of aid while abroad as they would if they were at Pitzer. Below are the differences students may see between a Pitzer semester and a Study Abroad semester.

Charges/Fees

Students who study abroad are charged the equivalent of full-time tuition, the student activity fee, on-campus housing and for the cost of the 16-meal plan, in addition to a $600 travel contribution.

Costs

Your cost for your study abroad semester should be very similar to a semester at Pitzer, but there are additional differences to consider. For example, if you typically select the 12- or 14- meal plan, you may see an increase in your charges when you study abroad because charges are based on the 16-meal plan. If you live off-campus when at Pitzer, you will see your charges increase when you study abroad because charges are based on the universal room rate and16-meal plan.

However, students with work-study will also have their work-study converted into a grant, which means most work-study students will still see an overall decrease in their bill when they go abroad vs. when they are at Pitzer.

If you have questions about your specific costs and wish to compare expenses, feel free to reach out to our office.

While studying abroad, students are ineligible to work through Pitzer. Even remote work is not allowed. Thus, the work-study allotment is removed, and your need is met with grant aid instead. This grant is not paid directly to students. Instead, it is paid directly to the Student Account at the start of the semester to reduce the family’s bill/costs to Pitzer.

Students who earn more than their work-study allotment each semester will notice a decrease in overall income when going abroad. Students who work but are not work-study recipients will lose the ability to have earnings while abroad.

Each semester, your cost of attendance includes an estimated cost for traveling to Pitzer, ranging from $50 – $500 (depending on your state of permanent residence). When you study abroad, this travel expense is removed from your cost of attendance and replaced by the the $600 Study Abroad travel fee.

The Study Abroad travel fee is a direct charge on the Student Account. Only one travel contribution is considered throughout your time at Pitzer. Students who study abroad for more than one semester will not receive assistance for a second travel contribution.

Cost

The comprehensive cost for study abroad for summer 2024 was $12,000. The cost for summer 2025 is still unknown.

Aid Options

Financial aid for summer study abroad is available to help cover the comprehensive cost, which includes tuition, fees, housing and meals.

• Pitzer Grant Aid: Available to Pitzer need-based aid recipients – eligible amount is based on student’s financial need
• Pell Grant: Available to Pitzer Pell Grant recipients
• Federal Loans: Available to Pitzer students who borrowed and have not exhausted their loan eligibility for the year

Timeline

To be considered for aid, students must provide all financial aid documents required for the upcoming academic year (2025-26) and sign a Summer Abroad Aid Agreement form. The Office of Financial Aid will email study abroad participants directly once aid notifications and the Summer Abroad Aid Agreement are available.

Students who study abroad over the summer receive aid equivalent to 2 courses (half-time) of enrollment. As a result, participants are expected to take one half-time semester (2 courses) at some point upon their return (usually the last semester of their senior year).

Students who choose to enroll full-time during their half-time semester are financially responsible for the additional costs. If you are concerned about this policy or have questions, please reach out to our office.

Traditional students

First-time, first-year students are eligible for 8 semesters of financial aid. By enrolling in summer study abroad, you use half a semester of financial aid eligibility.

Transfer students 

Transfer students are eligible for pro-rated semesters of financial aid based on their courses transferred at the time of admission. By enrolling in summer study abroad, you use half a semester of your pro-rated aid eligibility.

New Resource Students 

NRS are eligible for 32 courses of financial aid. If you are a New Resource student, you use the equivalent of 2 courses of financial aid eligibility. These 2 courses count toward your maximum aid eligibility.

Costs

Pitzer’s summer session is available to help students catch-up or get ahead. Visit Summer Session for more information on courses and other deadlines.

The cost of tuition for Summer Session 2025 is not available. Aid is not available to cover housing & meals, independent study courses, or courses taken at another Claremont College.

Aid Options

• Pitzer Grant Aid: Available to Pitzer need-based aid recipients who register in 1 or 2 courses – Pitzer Grant eligibility is based on available funding and a student’s financial need
• Pell Grant: Available to Pitzer Pell Grant recipients who are registered in 2 courses
• Federal Loans: Available to loan borrowers who are registered in 2 courses

Timeline

Financial aid is available to assist Pitzer need-based aid recipients with the cost of summer session. All Pitzer financial aid recipients registered for summer session by the priority deadline will automatically be considered for summer session aid; no application is required. The Office of Financial Aid will process summer session aid packages AFTER the close of priority registration and will release aid notifications by the first Friday in May.

The Office of Financial Aid encourages all students to register for the courses they wish to take. Students can make changes to registration until the first day of summer session classes.

If you decide to take a leave before the start of the semester, your financial aid for that semester is considered unused and does not count toward your total semesters of aid eligibility. See Aid Eligibility Policies in the Policies section of our website for more details.

It is important that you complete any leave paperwork with the Registrar’s Office before the semester starts and that you do not attend/start classes for the term.

Important Information

While you are on leave, you will not receive email communications from the Office of Financial Aid. It is important that you communicate with us and submit all documents for your aid application.

• March 2: Financial aid priority deadline
• March 15: Last day to apply to return for fall semester (complete return paperwork with the Registrar)
• October 15: Last day to apply to return for spring semester (complete return paperwork with the Registrar)

If you start/attend classes (even one day), for financial aid purposes you have started the semester. This means that your aid (federal, state and institutional) will be pro-rated based on your days of attendance.

Federal financial aid will be adjusted based on a federal calculation called Return of Title IV funds (R2T4). See Return to Title IV (R2T4) in the Policies section of our website. Pitzer financial aid will also be adjusted using a similar calculation.

After your aid is adjusted, the Office of Financial Aid will send you a revised notification letter outlining the aid you received for the semester.

Semesters of Aid Eligibility

Taking a leave after the semester has started means that you have used a semester of aid eligibility, which will impact your aid eligibility upon your return. See Aid Eligibility Policies in the Policies section of our website for more details.

Important Information

While you are on leave, you will not receive email communications from the Office of Financial Aid. It is important that you communicate with us and submit all documents for your aid application.

• March 2: Financial aid priority deadline
• March 15: Last day to apply to return for fall semester (complete return paperwork with the Registrar)
• October 15: Last day to apply to return for spring semester (complete return paperwork with the Registrar)

All students who borrowed through the Federal Direct Loan Program, the former Federal Perkins Loan Program, or Pitzer’s College Loan Program are required to complete exit counseling.

Complete exit counseling by Friday, April 19 to avoid a hold on your cap and gown.

Pitzer College & Federal Perkins Loan borrowers: Contact Elizabeth Vidales (elizabeth.vidales@claremont.edu) in the Student Loan Department at The Claremont Colleges Services Office to complete this exit counseling.

Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Borrowers: Complete this exit counseling online on the Federal Student Aid website.

Visit Federal Student Aid and go to “My Aid” to view your federal aid history and your lender’s contact information. The U.S. Department of Education will assign your loan to a servicer who will manage your payments.

Student Loan Repayment Info Sheet

Repayment Plans

There are various repayment plans to help students avoid default and hurting their financial future. Visit the Federal Student Aid website for all repayment plan options.

Useful Links

Annual Credit Report

Avoiding Student Aid Scams

Consumerfinance.gov

Direct Loan Exit Counseling Guide

Income-Driven Repayment Plans

Manage Loans – Federal Student Aid

Student Loan Forbearance

Student Loan Deferment

Student Loan Repayment Plans

What are loan deferment and forbearance?