Pomona College

Pomona College

(Pomona)

At schools with acceptance rates below 10%, nearly every applicant has near-perfect grades and test scores. Admissions decisions are driven by essays, extracurriculars, recommendations, and institutional priorities — factors no stats-based model can predict. Our likelihood labels reflect academic competitiveness only.

Pomona College is the founding member of the Claremont Colleges consortium in Southern California and one of the top liberal arts colleges in the nation. Its warm climate, strong science programs, and access to the resources of four neighboring colleges create a unique combination of intimate education and broad opportunity.

Mascot: Sagehen

Notable Alumni

Kris Kristofferson (singer-songwriter and actor)Myrlie Evers-Williams (civil rights leader)Roy E. Disney (Disney executive and filmmaker)

At a Glance

Acceptance Rate
7%
SAT (Optional)
1480–1540
Avg GPA
3.90
Enrollment
1.8K
Setting
Suburban
Founded
1887

Cost

Tuition$72K
Room & Board$24K
Est. Annual Total$95K

Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.

Top Programs & National Ranking

Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.

Highlights

Claremont Colleges consortium
Southern California location
Strong sciences for LAC

Athletics

Division
NCAA Division 3
Conference
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
View on NCAA.com

Campus Experience

Social Life
Moderate
Academic Pressure
Intense
Greek Life
Minimal
Campus Beauty
Beautiful

Pomona punches above its weight socially thanks to the Claremont Consortium — five undergraduate colleges sharing a campus means 7,000+ students' worth of parties, clubs, and events despite Pomona's own enrollment of ~1,700. There's essentially no Greek life, and the social scene runs on dorm parties, consortium-wide events, and the occasional trek into LA. Academics are rigorous but the SoCal sunshine and laid-back West Coast culture prevent the pressure-cooker vibe you'd find at peer schools in the Northeast.

Spanish Colonial and Mission Revival architecture surrounded by citrus trees, bougainvillea, and views of the San Gabriel Mountains give Pomona a distinctly beautiful Southern California character.

Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.

Safety

Campus SafetySafe

Claremont Colleges Campus Safety provides 24/7 patrols, escort services, and well-lit walkways across the consortium. Most incidents involve property theft.

Neighborhood SafetySafe

Claremont is a small, tree-lined college city in the San Gabriel Valley. The village-like character and college presence make it safer than surrounding communities.

Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.

Plan Your Visit

Guided Tour

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm during the semester. Blackout dates in January, March, and May.

Duration: ~1 hour for student-led campus tour

Tours include meeting admissions officers, campus walk, and option to visit a class. Admitted Students Day in mid-April. Part of the Claremont Colleges consortium — you can explore all five campuses while visiting.

Book a Tour
Self-Guided Tour

Self-guided tour option available through the admissions portal. Explore the Pomona campus and adjacent Claremont Colleges at your own pace.

Tour Resources
Insider Tips
See Orozco's 'Prometheus' mural (1930) inside Frary Hall dining room — one of the first modern frescoes painted in the United States and widely considered a masterpiece. Just walk into the dining hall and look up
Visit the Benton Museum of Art for free — a surprisingly deep collection of global art including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and textiles from cultures spanning centuries
Walk five minutes down Bonita Avenue to Claremont Village — it feels more like a Vermont town than Southern California, with tree-lined streets, independent bookshops, a five-screen cinema, and over 150 local shops and cafes
Hang out at the Sontag Greek Theatre on a sunny day (which is most days) — students study and socialize here, and it captures Pomona's blend of academic rigor and California lifestyle
Best Time to Visit

October-November and February-April for the most pleasant SoCal weather (70s) and full campus activity. Claremont averages 280 sunny days per year, so weather is rarely an issue. Avoid Thanksgiving-New Year's break and summer when the small campus empties out. Weekdays during the semester are best.

Getting There

South Campus Parking Structure at 295 E. First Street. Additional visitor parking at Alexander Hall lot (N. College Ave & 6th St) and limited street parking on College Avenue. Claremont Metrolink station is 3 blocks from campus (San Bernardino Line from LA Union Station). Ontario International Airport (ONT) is 20 minutes east. LAX is 45 minutes west (without traffic). Hollywood Burbank (BUR) also within range.

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