Pomona College is a private residential liberal arts college in Claremont, California, ranked #4 among National Liberal Arts Colleges as per US News 2025. Founded in 1887, it anchors the Claremont Colleges consortium of five undergraduate colleges and two graduate institutions sharing a single campus footprint.
Pomona College offers 48 majors across arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences, delivered entirely in English through a 4-year Bachelor of Arts framework. Popular Indian-applicant choices include Economics, Computer Science, Mathematics and Neuroscience, with cross-registration open across the universities in USA that make up the Claremont consortium. The college enrols students from over 50 countries and runs a single Fall intake for degree seekers.
- US News Rank: #4 National Liberal Arts Colleges 2025
- Acceptance Rate: 7% (estimated)
- Intakes: Fall (August 2027)
- Comprehensive Fee: USD 85,388 per year (INR 80.7 lakh)
- Average Starting Salary: USD 72,000 (INR 68.0 lakh)
Also Check: Top Universities in USA for Indian Students
Pomona College practices need-aware admission for international applicants but meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted students through grant-based aid. Indian students apply through the Common Application or QuestBridge, with F-1 student visa processing beginning after enrolment confirmation.
Exchange rate used: 1 USD = INR 94.5 as of September 2026
Admission Status: Open (Fall 2027 intake). The Early Decision I deadline is 15 November 2026, Early Decision II is 8 January 2027, and Regular Decision closes 8 January 2027 for international first-year applicants. QuestBridge National College Match candidates must submit by 26 September 2026 through the QuestBridge portal.
Table of Contents
- Popular Courses and Fees at Pomona College 2027
- Pomona College Admission 2027
- Pomona College Admission Requirements for Indian Applicants 2027
- Pomona College Acceptance Rate 2027
- Pomona College Fees and Cost of Living for Indian Students 2027
- Pomona College Campus, Facilities and Student Life
- Pomona College Scholarships 2027
- Pomona College Rankings 2027
- Pomona College Placements and Career Outcomes 2027
- Pomona College vs Peer Universities
- Pomona College FAQs
Popular Courses and Fees at Pomona College 2027
Pomona College offers 48 undergraduate majors across four divisions with a uniform Bachelor of Arts structure spanning four years. Tuition is billed annually with a single comprehensive fee that covers instruction, room, board and health services, so per-year cost is identical across majors.
Top 5 Pomona College Fees for Undergraduate Programs 2027
All undergraduate majors run over 4 years with the same annual comprehensive fee. The figures below reflect the published 2026-2027 rate; the college revises tuition each academic year.
| Program | Total Fee (USD) | Total Fee (INR lakh) | Entry Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA Economics | 341,552 | 322.8 lakh | Class 12 with 85% or above (recommended) |
| BA Computer Science | 341,552 | 322.8 lakh | Class 12 with 85% or above (recommended) |
| BA Mathematics | 341,552 | 322.8 lakh | Class 12 with 85% or above (recommended) |
| BA Neuroscience | 341,552 | 322.8 lakh | Class 12 with 85% or above (recommended) |
| BA Politics | 341,552 | 322.8 lakh | Class 12 with 85% or above (recommended) |
Insider note: Indian applicants gravitate toward Economics, Computer Science and Mathematics, but cross-registration at the neighbouring Claremont Colleges lets students combine a Pomona major with engineering courses at Harvey Mudd or media studies at Pitzer without extra tuition.
Read More: Pomona College Fees and Cost of Living Guide
Pomona College Admission 2027
Pomona College runs a single Fall intake with three application rounds for Indian first-year applicants. The full document checklist and waiver detail sit inside the Admissions guide.
| Milestone | Date | Notes for Indian Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| QuestBridge National College Match | 26 September 2026 | Binding match round through QuestBridge portal |
| Early Decision I | 15 November 2026 | Binding; decision by mid-December 2026 |
| Early Decision II and Regular Decision | 8 January 2027 | ED II binding; RD non-binding, decision late March 2027 |
| Credential verification lead time | Start 6 to 8 weeks before deadline | Transcript translation and school report required |
| Fall 2027 programme start | August 2027 | New student orientation precedes classes |
Planning note: Indian applicants targeting the CSS Profile aid pathway should complete it before the ED I deadline, since Pomona reviews international financial need alongside the admission file rather than after.
Read More: Pomona College Admissions Guide for Indian Students
Pomona College Admission Requirements for Indian Applicants 2027
Indian applicants apply as first-year candidates directly from Class 12 through the Common Application platform.
- Academic: Class 12 with 85% or above from CBSE, ICSE or state boards (recommended); official school-issued transcript required
- English test: TOEFL iBT minimum 100, IELTS minimum 7.0, or Duolingo English Test minimum 120; test-optional policy applies to SAT and ACT for Fall 2027
- Financial documentation: CSS Profile plus signed International Student Certification of Finances
- Standout requirement: Two teacher recommendations, one counselor recommendation and Pomona-specific supplemental essays
Key insight: Pomona remains test-optional for the Fall 2027 cycle, but Indian applicants from English-medium schools often skip the TOEFL only when their Class 12 English marks and counselor letter clearly certify English-medium instruction.
Pomona College Acceptance Rate 2027
Pomona College reports an overall acceptance rate of 7% (estimated) for the most recent admission cycle, placing it among the most selective liberal arts colleges in the United States. The figure combines Early Decision and Regular Decision admits and is derived from institutional applicant pool disclosures.
| Year | Acceptance Rate | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7% (estimated) | Stable |
| 2024 | 7% (estimated) | Stable |
International applicants face a comparable admit share, with Indian nationals filling a limited seat count each year. Early Decision applicants historically see a modestly higher admit rate than Regular Decision candidates.
Reality check: A 7% headline rate means Indian applicants need a differentiated academic and extracurricular profile; strong Class 12 percentages alone rarely clear the bar without well-crafted essays and evidence of intellectual initiative.
Read More: Pomona College Acceptance Rate
Pomona College Fees and Cost of Living for Indian Students 2027
Total annual cost for an Indian undergraduate at Pomona College sits at approximately USD 85,388 (INR 80.7 lakh), covering the comprehensive fee that bundles tuition, housing, meals and student services on the Claremont campus.
Pomona College Tuition Fees for Indian Students 2027
The comprehensive fee model bundles all core charges into a single annual figure. Additional personal expenses and travel sit outside this figure.
| Fee Component | Annual Cost (USD) | Annual Cost (INR lakh) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | 65,660 | 62.0 lakh |
| Room and board | 19,728 | 18.6 lakh |
| Comprehensive fee total | 85,388 | 80.7 lakh |
Monthly Cost of Living in Claremont for Indian Students
Room and board are prepaid inside the comprehensive fee for residential students. The figures below cover incidental personal spend that Indian students should budget separately.
| Category | Monthly (USD) | Monthly (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Books and supplies | 75 | 7,088 |
| Personal expenses | 150 | 14,175 |
| Local transportation | 60 | 5,670 |
| Health insurance | 230 | 21,735 |
| Total monthly | 515 | 48,668 |
| Annual estimate | 4,635 | 4.4 lakh |
[Source: Pomona College official cost of attendance estimate 2026-2027]
Insider note: The comprehensive fee removes rent uncertainty, but Indian students should budget an additional USD 1,500 (INR 1.4 lakh) annually for one round-trip flight to India during winter or summer break.
Read More: Cost of Living in USA for Indian Students
Pomona College Campus, Facilities and Student Life
Pomona College sits on a 140-acre campus in Claremont, California, roughly 35 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Location and transport: Metrolink commuter rail links Claremont to Downtown Los Angeles; Ontario International Airport is a 20-minute drive
- Housing: On-campus housing is guaranteed all four years for undergraduates, with over 98% of students living on campus
- Notable facility: The Benton Museum of Art houses a permanent collection of over 15,000 works freely accessible to students
- Consortium access: Cross-registration and dining across the five undergraduate Claremont Colleges expands course choice to more than 2,700 offerings
- Indian community: Small but active South Asian Student Association organises Diwali, Holi and cultural events each semester
What Indian students say: The residential guarantee removes housing stress entirely, and the shared consortium campus feels closer to a small university than a standalone college. Access to Harvey Mudd engineering courses is the most frequently cited practical benefit.
Pomona College Scholarships 2027
Pomona College meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted international students through institutional grant-based aid, without loans in the standard financial aid package. Aid is not merit-based.
| Scholarship | Type | Award Value | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pomona College Need-Based Grant | Need-based grant | Up to USD 85,388 per year (INR 80.7 lakh) | Admitted international students demonstrating financial need | Aligned with application deadline |
| QuestBridge National College Match | Full four-year scholarship | Full comprehensive fee coverage | High-achieving low-income applicants via QuestBridge | 26 September 2026 |
Planning note: Indian applicants must submit the CSS Profile in the same window as the admission application; late financial documentation cannot be added after the admit decision, and Pomona does not offer merit scholarships.
Read More: Pomona College Scholarships Guide
Pomona College Rankings 2027
Pomona College ranks #4 among National Liberal Arts Colleges as per US News 2025, its strongest current ranking position, with consistent top-5 placement across recent editions.
| Ranking Body | Latest Edition | Previous Edition | Two Editions Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| US News National Liberal Arts Colleges | 2025: #4 | 2024: #4 | 2023: #4 |
| QS World | 2027: Not ranked | 2026: Not ranked | 2025: Not ranked |
| THE World | 2026: Not ranked | 2025: Not ranked | 2024: Not ranked |
| Forbes America’s Top Colleges | 2025: #17 | 2024: #18 | 2023: #22 |
[Source: US News, Forbes]
QS and THE rank research-heavy universities and do not rank US liberal arts colleges as a category, which is standard practice; US News National Liberal Arts Colleges is the authoritative benchmark for Pomona.
Key insight: For Indian applicants, US News liberal arts rankings signal instructional quality and peer prestige, but the F-1 visa and employer recognition treat Pomona graduates on par with top research universities given comparable outcomes.
Read More: Pomona College Rankings Analysis
Pomona College Placements and Career Outcomes 2027
Pomona College reports strong post-graduation outcomes with early-career salary levels comparable to elite national universities, driven by a Career Development Office that supports on-campus recruiting and graduate school placement.
- Employment within six months: Approximately 94% (estimated) of graduates report being employed, in graduate school or pursuing fellowships
- Median starting salary: USD 72,000 (INR 68.0 lakh) market median for recent graduates
- Top sectors: Consulting, technology, finance, education and non-profit sectors dominate first-destination outcomes
- Career support: Career Development Office runs alumni-mentor networks, on-campus interviews and Sagehen Connect for internships
- Post-study work: Indian graduates on F-1 visa qualify for 12-month OPT, extendable to 36 months if the major is designated STEM (Computer Science, Mathematics, Neuroscience qualify)
Insider note: Pomona graduates in Computer Science and Economics are actively recruited by Bay Area technology firms and East Coast investment banks; the alumni network in Los Angeles is a particular strength for early-career Indian graduates.
Pomona College vs Peer Universities
The peer set below compares Pomona College against the other top US liberal arts colleges most cross-shopped by Indian applicants, benchmarked on selectivity and cost.
| College | US News Liberal Arts 2025 | Annual Comprehensive Fee (USD) | Annual Comprehensive Fee (INR lakh) | Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pomona College | #4 | 85,388 | 80.7 lakh | Claremont consortium cross-registration |
| Williams College | #1 | 84,140 | 79.5 lakh | Tutorial-style Oxbridge instruction |
| Amherst College | #2 | 87,120 | 82.3 lakh | Open curriculum with no core requirements |
| Swarthmore College | #3 | 82,606 | 78.1 lakh | Engineering degree offered on-site |
| Wellesley College | #5 | 83,110 | 78.5 lakh | Women’s college near Boston |
Pomona College stands out for its consortium access, guaranteed four-year housing and consistent top-5 placement. Indian applicants weighing offers should factor the Southern California climate and Los Angeles proximity alongside the pure ranking numbers.
Pomona College is a strong fit for Indian applicants seeking an intimate residential undergraduate education with need-based aid worth up to USD 85,388 (INR 80.7 lakh) per year against a market median starting salary of USD 72,000 (INR 68.0 lakh). The Claremont consortium model and post-study F-1 visa OPT pathway make it a rare combination of small-college teaching and research-university career access.
Pomona College is not the right fit for Indian students set on pre-professional degrees like engineering, business or nursing, since those degree tracks do not exist. Applicants seeking those fields should consider a national research university such as University of Southern California in the same region.
Pomona College FAQs
Ques. What majors can Indian students pursue at Pomona College?
Ans. Pomona College offers 48 undergraduate majors across arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. Indian students commonly pick Economics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Politics and International Relations. Engineering as a full degree is not available on campus, though 3-2 combined plans with California Institute of Technology or Washington University exist for a small number of students each year.
Ques. Can Indian students work part-time while studying at Pomona College?
Ans. F-1 visa holders can work up to 20 hours per week on campus during term and 40 hours during breaks. Pomona College operates an active student employment programme in dining, library, research assistantships and residential life. Off-campus work is restricted to Curricular Practical Training or Optional Practical Training authorised through the International Students office after the first academic year.
Ques. Does Pomona College waive the TOEFL requirement for Indian applicants?
Ans. Pomona College may waive the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo requirement for applicants from schools where English is the exclusive medium of instruction. Indian applicants from CBSE, ICSE or IB schools should have their counselor certify English-medium instruction directly in the school report. The final waiver decision rests with the admissions committee.
Ques. What is the application fee at Pomona College and can Indian applicants get a waiver?
Ans. The application fee is USD 70 (INR 6,615) for the Common Application submission. Indian applicants can request a fee waiver directly through the Common Application by indicating financial hardship or through counselor endorsement. QuestBridge candidates automatically receive the fee waiver, and no applicant is turned away for inability to pay.
Ques. How does Pomona College verify Indian school transcripts?
Ans. Pomona College accepts official transcripts sent directly from the applicant’s Class 12 school or board with counselor certification. Third-party credential evaluations from WES or ECE are not required at the application stage. Admitted students submit final Class 12 mark sheets and school-leaving certificates before enrolment, and transcripts in languages other than English require certified translations.
Ques. Are dependent visas available for Indian students at Pomona College?
Ans. Undergraduate students at Pomona College are typically unmarried and do not bring dependents. However, F-2 dependent visas exist for spouses and children of F-1 holders. Financial proof must be increased to reflect dependent living costs, and F-2 dependents cannot work in the United States but can enrol in part-time academic study.
Ques. Which Indian education loan providers recognise Pomona College?
Ans. Major Indian public sector banks including State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Punjab National Bank sanction education loans for Pomona College. Non-banking lenders like HDFC Credila, Avanse, InCred and Prodigy Finance also cover the college. Given that need-based aid meets 100% of demonstrated need, most Indian admits combine institutional grants with a smaller supplemental loan for personal expenses.
Ques. Does Pomona College require interviews for Indian applicants?
Ans. Interviews at Pomona College are optional and evaluative, offered virtually to Indian applicants through the Alumni Interview Programme. Applicants should request an interview by mid-October for Early Decision and late November for Regular Decision. Not interviewing does not disadvantage the applicant, but a well-prepared conversation can add colour to the file for borderline admissions decisions.
Find A Program
Top streams:
Top Recommended Courses
Do you think the fees are wrong ? Report Here
Do you think the fees are wrong ? Report Here
Course Finder - Search from 50K+ courses
Popular Streams:

Overall 338 out of 824 in Global Ranking
Do you think the Rankings are wrong ? Report Here
Pomona College Scholarships
| Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEC Scholarship | Scholarship per student₹ 95,950/Yr$1,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| BeArt Presets-Academic Scholarship | Scholarship per student₹ 2.4 L/Yr$2,500 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Chuan Ai Lu Engstrom Memorial Scholarship | Scholarship per student₹ 95,950/Yr$1,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCollege-Specific | |
| Bharat Petroleum Scholarship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Comindware Scholarship | Scholarship per student₹ 3.8 L/Yr$4,000 | Level Of StudyApprenticeship | TypeMerit-Based |
Do you think the Scholarship is wrong ? Report Here
Pomona College Admissions
Application Portal: https://www.pomona.edu/admissions/apply
Early Action Deadlines
Important Date: November1 (Application deadline)Important Date: April1 (Application results)Regular Decision Deadlines
Important Date: January15 (Application deadline)Important Date: April1 (Application results)
Pomona College Exam Scores
| Exams | Avg. Score | Min Score | Max. Score | %Submitted' |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | ||||
| SAT | 1450 | 1370 | 1530 | 52 |
| Check Detailed Score | ||||
| Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 725 | 690 | 760 | - |
| Mathematics | 725 | 680 | 770 | - |
| ACT | 32 | 30 | 34 | 66 |
| Check Detailed Score | ||||
| English | 34 | 32 | 35 | - |
| Mathematics | 31 | 28 | 34 | - |
Attendance Cost
The table shows average yearly cost of attendance for international students. Amount may vary with the course opted, nature of accommodation, and personal spending habits of a candidate.Check Program wise Fees
Pomona College Accreditations
Faculty
| Total Faculty | Full Time | Part Time | Graduate Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2340 | 2206 | 134 | - |

















Comments