Pomona College acceptance rate & admissions

Pomona College admits 7% of applicants, about 1 in 14. For Fall 2023, 819 of 12,121 applicants were admitted and 408 enrolled. The school considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional). The middle half of Fall 2024 enrolled first-year students scored 1490–1560 on the SAT or 33–35 on the ACT.

Check your chances at Pomona College → Compare your GPA and scores with these ranges, and with other colleges.

Acceptance rate
7%

More selective than 98% of California colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class

Test scores
Considered, not required

29% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 15% sent ACT scores.

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class

Admitted students who enroll
50%

Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Pomona College over other offers.

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class

Applicants, admits and enrollment

Applied12,121
Admitted819
Enrolled408

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.

Pomona College SAT and ACT scores

Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, Pomona College is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.

Test25th percentile75th percentile
SAT reading & writing740770
SAT math750790
ACT composite3335
SAT total (approx.)14901560

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.

Pomona College admissions year over year

Entering classAcceptanceSAT readingSAT mathACTSource
Fall 20247%740–770750–79033–35College Scorecard
Fall 20237%730–770750–79033–35IPEDS

Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.

How selective is Pomona College compared with other California colleges?

Pomona College has the 3rd-lowest acceptance rate of 92 California colleges we cover. Schools around it:

RankCollegeAcceptanceGraduationAvg. net price
1California Institute of Technology3%94%$16,075
2Stanford University4%92%$13,807
3Pomona College7%93%$19,285
4University of California-Los Angeles9%93%$12,548
5Claremont McKenna College10%91%$28,849
6University of Southern California10%92%$32,740
7University of California-Berkeley11%93%$13,481
8Harvey Mudd College13%92%$35,924
9Northeastern University Oakland17%—$25,181

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All California colleges →

Who enrolls at Pomona College

First-year students who return for year two98%
First-year students from California30%
Pell Grant recipients20%
First-generation students30%
Women / men55% / 45%
International students14%

College Scorecard; IPEDS

Pomona College admissions questions

What is the Pomona College acceptance rate?

Pomona College accepts 7% of applicants, about 1 in 14. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 819 of 12,121 applicants were admitted.

Does Pomona College require the SAT or ACT?

Pomona College considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 29% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 15% submitted ACT scores.

What SAT score do you need for Pomona College?

The middle 50% of Pomona College enrolled first-year students scored 1490–1560 on the SAT and 33–35 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.

How many admitted students enroll at Pomona College?

50% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (408 of 819).

Is Pomona College getting harder to get into?

Pomona College accepted 7% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 7% for Fall 2023.

Is Pomona College the right fit for your family?

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Pomona College overview