Exchange Students

Pitzer College partners with institutions that share a commitment to promoting and expanding international understanding, development, and friendship, as well as to stimulating and supporting educational, professional and intercultural activities and projects. Exchanges are a concrete way of demonstrating Pitzer’s core values. Our international students also enhance the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Pitzer community.

International and domestic students can study at Pitzer for a semester or a full year on exchange according to the exchange agreement with each college or university. Review the list of international and domestic exchange partners. Direct enrollment is not available.

About Pitzer College & Claremont

Pitzer is part of The Claremont Colleges, a unique consortium of seven academic institutions. You'll have the resources of a large university while enjoying the class sizes of a small liberal arts college. Learn more about Pitzer and The Claremont Colleges.

Claremont is a beautiful, safe, and sophisticated suburban community about 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Its restaurants, art galleries, lush parks, and shops are only a short walk from The Claremont Colleges. Hiking and skiing are available at nearby Mount Baldy. Malibu, Laguna Beach, Palm Springs, and the cultural, educational, social, and entertainment centers of greater Los Angeles and Hollywood are an hour away, including such attractions as Disneyland, the LA Lakers, Beverly Hills, UCLA, and Universal Studios. Claremont has a sunny Mediterranean climate year round with occasional rain in the winter.

How to Apply

To apply, contact the Study Abroad or International Programs office at your home institution. Correspondence and applications must be conducted with and through your home institution’s officials until you have been officially nominated and have received an offer of acceptance from Pitzer College. 

Once you have been nominated and accepted as an exchange student you will work directly with the Pitzer International Programs Office to prepare for your exchange program at Pitzer.

Academic Life

Diversity and intercultural understanding are woven into the fabric of the College’s curriculum and community, with students coming to Pitzer from across the United States and throughout the world. Academic interchange among the undergraduate Colleges and Claremont Graduate University provides opportunities for curricular enrichment and
active membership in the wider community of The Claremont Colleges. Under the guidance of a personal academic adviser, a student can register for classes in any of the Claremont Undergraduate Colleges, choosing 3 to 5 classes from a total of approximately 1,000 classes offered every year. Learn more:

• Academic Programs at Pitzer
• Pitzer College Curriculum and Course Catalog 

Exchange students who demonstrate English level proficiency through one of the following means qualify for regular admission to Pitzer College.

• Be a native speaker of English
• Have completed 4 years of high school whose primary language of instruction is English
• Have an original and official IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo English Test report with a minimum score of 100 (New Internet-based TOEFL), 250 (Computer-based TOEFL), 7.0 (IELTS), or 130 (Duolingo)
• Take the Pitzer English Language Proficiency Test administered through your university as part of the application process and achieve a minimum score of 70.

Students who are below this level of English proficiency may be strongly recommended or required to enroll in one or more English for Academic Purposes courses offered through Pitzer’s Department of Modern Language, Literature & Culture (MLLC). Please visit the International Scholars webpage for more information on these courses.

Student Life

All exchange students are guaranteed placement in student housing. Students will typically be placed in a double room with a roommate from a different cultural background. Please visit the Living at Pitzer page for more information on student housing, dining, and on-campus facilities. 

While at Pitzer you will have the opportunity to join one or more of the hundreds of student-run clubs and organizations. Clubs are centered on a variety of interests. Whether you are interested in exploring new interests, volunteering in the local community, or connecting with people who share an identity with yourself, you can be sure to find a club that will interest you. To see what clubs and organizations are available for you to join, please visit the following page.