Pomona vs. Amherst

Comparable Facts

Compare Pomona College in Claremont, CA with Amherst College in Amherst, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Amherst College is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (1,914 students vs. 1,700 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pomona College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Amherst College is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
• Pomona College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pomona College 7:1; Amherst College 6:1.

Pomona vs. Amherst Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pomona or Amherst? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than Pomona ($19,049 vs. $19,938).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 14% lower than at Pomona College ($18,390 vs. $21,394).
• Amherst College is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pomona (about $5,060 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $65,420.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at Amherst than at Pomona College (about $5,060 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $65,420.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Pomona College as at Amherst College (59% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 4.9% larger than aid received by Pomona College students ($68,591 vs. $65,362).

Pomona vs. Amherst Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pomona or Amherst? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Amherst and Pomona.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 10 points higher than at Pomona (1530).
• Incoming Pomona students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Amherst (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 1490/1560; Amherst College 1490/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 33/35; Amherst College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pomona - Test optional; Amherst - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pomona Jan 8, 2027; Amherst Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Pomona (3.89).
• Amherst has a higher acceptance rate (9%) than Pomona (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.2% at Pomona vs. 38.8% at Amherst.

Pomona vs. Amherst Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pomona and Amherst? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Pomona College's (95%).
• Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $11,500 more per year than Pomona graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $70,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $1,975 lower median loan debt than Amherst graduates ($11,000 vs. $12,975).
• Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Amherst graduates ($113 vs. $134).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.