- Acceptance rate: 7.1% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 740–770 reading and writing, 750–790 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 33–35 composite
- Average net price: $17,423 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? Check your GPA
Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Pomona College reported: an acceptance rate of 7.1% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 33–35.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Pomona College reviews each application.
Pomona College GPA requirements
Pomona College doesn't require a high school GPA from first-year applicants but considers one if it's submitted, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Pomona College hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Pomona College acceptance rate
Pomona College admitted 868 of 12,249 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 7.1%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Pomona College is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Claremont, California, with 1,700 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Pomona College in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 740 | 760 | 770 |
| SAT Math | 750 | 780 | 790 |
| ACT Composite | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| ACT English | 35 | 35 | 36 |
| ACT Math | 31 | 33 | 35 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1534 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Pomona College looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Pomona College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $17,423 a year at Pomona College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How selective is Pomona College?
Very hard: fewer than 1 in 10 applicants got in, which makes it one of the hardest colleges to get into. Pomona College admitted 7.1% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What are Pomona College's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Pomona College's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 740–770 in reading and writing and 750–790 in math; ACT composite 33–35, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
What is Pomona College's acceptance rate?
Pomona College's acceptance rate was 7.1% for fall 2024: it admitted 868 of 12,249 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.
What GPA do you need to get into Pomona College?
Pomona College doesn't require a high school GPA but considers one if submitted, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Do I have a chance at Pomona College with a 3.5 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Pomona College admitted 7.1% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It considers a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.5 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
How much does GPA matter at Pomona College?
It's one factor among several: Pomona College requires high school record, college preparatory program, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers high school GPA, high school class rank, test scores, demonstration of competencies and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to Pomona College?
No. Pomona College is test optional: it considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 36% sent SAT scores and 14% sent ACT scores.
What is the average net price at Pomona College?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $17,423 a year at Pomona College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Pomona College consider legacy status?
No. Pomona College doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does Pomona College accept AP credit?
Yes. Pomona College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Before you apply, check Pomona College's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Pomona CollegeU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
Similar colleges in California
With a similar acceptance rate and size.
- Claremont McKenna CollegeVery hard · 9.6% admitted
- California Institute of TechnologyVery hard · 2.6% admitted
- Harvey Mudd CollegeHard · 13% admitted
- Minerva UniversityVery hard · 3% admitted
- Stanford UniversityVery hard · 3.6% admitted
- Pitzer CollegeModerate · 25% admitted
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