Pomona College
Pomona College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Pomona College at a Glance
Pomona College is a private college in Claremont, California, United States. It was established in 1887 by a group of Congregationalists who wanted to recreate a "college of the New England type" in Southern California. In 1925, it became the founding member of the Claremont Colleges consortium of adjacent, affiliated institutions.
1887
139 years old
$3.0B
$2.99 billion (2024)
1,690
276
140 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Pomona College
Official admissions page$80
Fee waiver available
Testing policy
Fee waiver
Is Pomona College Worth It?
Pomona College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $19,285/year net price and $77,779 median earnings, graduates earn 4.0× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 93% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
The catch: admission is extremely selective at just 7%, making this an option only for top-tier applicants.
Median student debt of $11,782 is manageable at just 15% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: Pomona College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Pomona College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #5 of 16 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Bowdoin College | 100 | $14,398 | $82,735 |
| #2 | Colby College | 100 | $17,180 | $80,490 |
| #3 | Williams College | 100 | $17,716 | $88,665 |
| #4 | Davidson College | 100 | $17,379 | $81,400 |
| #5 | Pomona College | 94 | $19,285 | $77,779 |
| #6 | Washington and Lee University | 94 | $23,781 | $94,810 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Pomona College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Pomona College
The highest-earning program at Pomona College is Economics at $80,800/year (4 years after graduation).
Your major matters more than the school name — a Economics graduate from Pomona College earns $80,800, while a Economics graduate earns $80,800. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $19,285/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $80,800 | $80,800 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Claremont, CA
- Student Body
- 1,666 students
- Admission Rate
- 7%
- Graduation Rate
- 93%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $19,285
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $77,779
- Median Student Debt
- $11,782