Why Pomona?

Pomona College has everything you might expect from one of the nation’s finest liberal arts colleges: exceptional faculty, an intimate learning environment and a broad-based curriculum.

Here are a few questions you might be asking yourself when narrowing down your options for college. Our answers will help you see why Pomona College is anything but ordinary.

What does campus life at Pomona College look like? 
Pomona offers the best of both worlds—an intimate learning environment with small class sizes, but with the facilities and options of a larger university. As the founding member of The Claremont Colleges, we share resources (classes, a research library, clubs, affinity groups, dining halls and more) with four other top undergraduate colleges (the “5Cs”) and two graduate institutions located within a square mile. With a combined 5C student body of 6,000, Pomona College students have a social and academic experience that expands far beyond our own campus.

I have many academic interests. Is it OK if I haven't decided on a major?
We love students with broad interests and, in fact, encourage exploration through our general education requirements and flexible curriculum. Once you’re ready to decide (by your junior year), take your pick from 48 majors. Or double major if you can't pick just one.

How accessible are research opportunities at Pomona?
Since we do not have graduate students, our faculty love engaging students in their research, giving you the chance to work closely with faculty on projects that truly advance the boundaries of knowledge. In fact, it’s not uncommon for first-year students to get involved. The Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) enables about 100+ students annually to conduct extended, focused research in close cooperation with a Pomona faculty member. SURP projects, which receive funding from Pomona and from public and private foundations, take place both on campus and in the field and span all disciplines. Half of Pomona's students do research with faculty during their time here, and 25% will publish or present their findings at professional conferences.

How affordable is Pomona College?
To maintain the remarkable strength and variety of Pomona’s student body, the College’s financial resources are critical. For U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and students graduating from U.S. high schools, admission decisions are made without consideration of a student’s financial circumstances (need-blind admissions). More than half of Pomona’s students receive need-based financial aid from the College to support their study; in 2023-2024, the average financial aid award was $70,785; and the College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need of every enrolled student. Since 2008, all financial aid awards have been a combination of scholarships, grants and work study (with no packaged loans).

What are faculty members like at Pomona? 
 Pomona faculty members are diverse in background and scholarly interests. All are committed teachers of undergraduates. They frequently experiment with new approaches and materials, tailoring instruction to the changing world beyond their classrooms or laboratories. Astronomy instructors and students may stargaze from the College’s one-meter telescope on nearby Table Mountain, for example, while those pursuing art history might drive into Los Angeles to study masterworks of art at any one of a number of world-class museums.

Who goes to Pomona?
While it’s difficult to generalize about Pomona students, there are a few traits we can safely say are typical. Pomona students embrace new ideas, take initiative, ask questions, and pursue solutions. They also share a spirit of openness and collaboration. They are academically talented, and they want to do something important with their talents. It’s also safe to say that, among them, you're sure to find some of the most interesting and inspiring people you'll ever encounter in your life. 

What does diversity look like at Pomona?
Students come to Pomona from every state in the nation and from many other countries, from private and public schools, from large cities, suburbs and small towns. In the Class of 2029, 55% are domestic students of color, and 24% are in the first generation of their families to attend a four-year college or university. We have support resources for all students, including the Asian American Resource Center, Queer Resource Center, Women’s Union, Office of Black Student Affairs, McAlister Center for Religious Activities, Chicano/Latino Student Affairs, First-Generation, Low-Income (FLI) Scholars and many more! 

Tell me about Southern California. What is it like to go to college in SoCal?
Not only does Pomona provide a world-class college education, but it provides an amazing range of opportunities and resources. Consider our annual Ski-Beach Day, when a busload of adventurous students dons parkas and gloves in the morning to try their skills on the nearby Mountain High resort’s slopes. That afternoon, they re-board the bus for the ride to Newport (or another local) Beach to end the day with a seaside cookout. It’s just one of the hundreds of campus events available to students at The Claremont Colleges, along with all the arts, culture and internship opportunities of nearby Los Angeles. 

What career opportunities do Pomona grads pursue?
A Pomona education has staying power. It reminds you that, although you may have left this remarkable place, your responsibility to take its energy and ideals into the greater world does not diminish. While at Pomona, students actively explore after-college possibilities. 89% of Pomona grads have completed an internship by the time they graduate, and 70% have completed two or more. Four years at Pomona not only prepare you for a career, but they are the first steps in a life of purpose, innovation and accomplishment. We encourage our students to engage with our Career Development Office early in their academic journey to explore career opportunities.