Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Pomona admits about 1 in 14 applicants (7.1%). That puts it in the "Ultra selective" tier, more selective than 99% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (7.6% and 6.7%).
$70 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Yield
50% of admitted students enroll, one of the highest nationally.
Wait list: 845 offered a place, 587 accepted, 62 admitted (11% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 13% admitted
212 of 1,691 early applicants
Apply by Nov 15; decisions by Dec 15
Second round: apply by Jan 8; decisions by Feb 15
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
No early action plan.
Where you stand
How Pomona reads a record
and class rank are both very important; tests are considered. Scores are optional. 36% of first-years sent an SAT and 14% an ACT. Of the 29% whose high school reported a rank, 85% were in the top tenth. Recommends 4 years of science and math (2 and 3 required). See the years by subject
What they look at
- High school GPA
- Considered
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Considered
- College-prep program
- Required
- Recommendations
- Required
- Essay
- Required
- Legacy status
- Not considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Considered
- English proficiency test
- Required
- Other tests
- Not considered
Transferring in
7.2% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 7.1% of first-year applicants
474 applied · 34 admitted · 20 enrolled
At least 1 year completed to apply as a transfer.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date February 15, apply by April 1, decisions by June 1, reply by June 1
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 8 for fall 2024.
- $500 housing deposit, due May 1, non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year.
What you'll need in high school
Doesn't require a high school diploma or equivalent.
Neither requires nor recommends a set college-preparatory program.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 4 |
| Science (lab: 2 / 3) | 2 | 4 |
| Foreign language | 3 | 3 |
| Social studies | 2 | 3 |
| Total | 14* | 18* |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science. *Added up from the subjects listed; the college didn't give a total.
Recent change: Started considering a demonstration of competencies in fall 2023.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2023 first-years
First-years' high school class rank
85% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 97% in the top quarter, of the 29% whose high school reported a rank.
This college doesn't publish first-years' .
Source:Pomona College Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2023About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1525 on the SAT, 355 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Pomona College Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2023;Pomona College Common Data Set 2023–24, 2023–24;Pomona College Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2024 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)