Pomona College Admissions

About Pomona College

Pomona ranks #4 (tie with Wellesley and Swarthmore) for National Liberal Arts Colleges according to the most recent issue of U.S. News and World Report. Founded in 1887, Pomona hosts about 1,700 students on its 140-acre campus in Claremont, California, which is situated 35 miles east of LA. Pomona is the founding member of the Claremont Colleges, and as such, students at Pomona are free to take classes at the two graduate colleges, Claremont Graduate University and Keck Graduate Institute, or any of the remaining 5C’s: Scripps, Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, and Pitzer. Together, the Claremont Colleges are situated on 546 acres of land, and their 8,500 students enjoy 7 campuses that are all within a mile walk of each other. 

At Pomona, 94 percent of students live in one of 16 residence halls all four years. 25 percent of students at Pomona compete on varsity teams alongside Pitzer varsity athletes in the NCAA Division III. The 21 varsity teams of Sagehens (students from Pomona and Pitzer) compete against Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, and Scripps, but students on club teams play together with members of all the 5Cs. In addition to varsity and club teams, Pomona offers intramural sports and outings through their Outdoor Education Center. Students looking to join a small community on campus can join one of the Claremont College’s 308 clubs and organizations. Through athletics and these extra-curricular clubs, students at Pomona meet peers that hail from all over the world. The incoming Class of 2027 boasts an especially diverse class including students from all 50 states and 65 other countries. These students enjoy campus traditions together, like “fountaining,” “Nochella,”and departing on school-sponsored trips to explore the 47 must-sees in the area. 

Pomona College offers 600 courses every year across 48 majors and 41 minors, but across Claremont College there are more than 2,700 courses available for students at Pomona. Students interested in pre-med, pre-law, or pre-engineering can’t pursue a specific program at Pomona, but they can take advantage of Pomona’s selected coursework, advising, and application guidance. Pre-engineering students can also take advantage of Pomona’s 3-2 plan with the California Institute of Technology and Washington University or the dual-degree program in conjunction with Dartmouth College. Students who stay on Pomona’s campus enjoy the 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 15. 

FEATURED SERVICES

3 popular Top Tier solutions recommended for you!

College Acceptance Results for Top Tier Admissions

Top Tier’s students had GREAT results in both the early and regular rounds. Check out our successes!

Applying to Pomona College

Pomona offers applicants three rounds of admissions: Early Decision I (due November 1st), Early Decision II (due January 1st), and Regular Decision (due January 1st). Both Early Decision rounds are binding, meaning once admitted, applicants must withdraw all other applications. In the case of Early Decision II, applicants will hear back from Pomona around mid-February, at which point, if admitted, they must withdraw from their Regular Decision schools. The Regular round, on the other hand, is non-restrictive and non-binding, meaning students can apply to as many additional schools as they’d like. Due to accessibility concerns during the pandemic, Pomona has extended its test-optional policy for students applying for first-year and transfer admission for entry in 2022-2023. Although the SAT or ACT is no longer required, students may still choose to self-report their scores. Indeed, of the admitted students in 2022, over half (57 percent) submitted a standardized test score. Students can also schedule an off-campus alumni interview beginning in September until December 1st. Pomona states that they do not track “demonstrated interest” through scheduled interviews, but interviewers still submit a statement as part of a student’s application. 

Pomona College Admissions Wrap Up

Class of 2027
Pomona accepted 757 students to the Class of 2027. The incoming class is 53 percent female and 47 percent male. 62 percent are domestic students of color and 14 percent are international. 23 percent are first generation college students and 95 percent of accepted students are in the top 10 percent of their graduating class.

Top Tier Admissions Can Help You Get Into Pomona College:

Ready to Apply to Pomona? Try one these Top Tier options!

Application Boot Camp®

Need strategic guidance from start to finish? Try Application Boot Camp®.

Personal Boot Camp

Personal Boot Camp

Three days of one-on-one work with a Senior Counselor from the Application Boot Camp® team.

College admissions private counseling

College Private Counseling

Develop an organized and effective application strategy that leverages your academic and extracurricular experience to stand out.

Top Tier Futures: Early college prep, educational guidance & resources for grades 4-8

X