Pomona vs. Carleton College

Should I go to Pomona College or Carleton College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Pomona or Carleton College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Pomona College vs. Carleton College comparison
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Pomona College Carleton College
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Overview

Pomona Carleton College
Location Claremont, CA Northfield, MN
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 1,664 2,069
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #20 #42
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pomona.edu carleton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Pomona Carleton College
Tuition (In State) $61,906 $65,043
Tuition (Out of State) $61,906 $65,043
Room & Board $20,374 $16,710
Avg Net Price $17,423 $29,434
Avg Grant Aid $63,773 $51,916
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 57%

Admission

Pomona Carleton College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,121 6,464
Admitted 819 1,440
Acceptance Rate 6.8% 22.3%
Enrolled % 49.8% 37.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.9
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 33/35 32/34
SAT Range 1480/1560 1430/1550
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 8, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Pomona Carleton College
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (9%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Physical Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Pomona Carleton College
Graduation Rate 95% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $70,500 $65,600
Making Student Loan Payments - 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $11,000 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $113 $201

Diversity

Pomona Carleton College
% Men 1% 1%
% Women 1% 1%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 40% 63%
% Black 7% 4%
% Hispanic 15% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 8% 5%
% International 10% 10%
% Unknown Race 6% 2%

Students

Pomona Carleton College
% In-State 30% 21%
% Out-of-State 51% 67%

Campus

Pomona Carleton College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Carleton College is larger than than Pomona based on total student enrollment (2,069 students vs. 1,664 students)

Pomona vs. Carleton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pomona or Carleton College?

  • Carleton College is 5.1% more expensive to attend than Pomona for in-state tuition ($65,043.00 vs. $61,906.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.1% higher at Carleton College than Pomona College ($65,043.00 vs. $61,906.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pomona College than Carleton College ($17,423 vs. $29,434)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carleton College are 21.9% lower than costs at Pomona College ($16,710 vs. $20,374)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Carleton College than Pomona College (57% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 22.8% larger than aid received Carleton College ($63,773 vs. $51,916)

Pomona vs. Carleton College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pomona or Carleton College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Carleton College or Pomona .

  • The average SAT score at Pomona College (1435) is 35 points higher than at Carleton College (1400)
  • Incoming Pomona students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Carleton College (31)
  • Accepted freshman Carleton College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Pomona (3.89)
  • Carleton College has a higher acceptance rate (22.3%) than Pomona (6.8%)

Pomona vs. Carleton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Pomona or Carleton College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Carleton College and Pomona.

  • The graduation rate at Pomona is higher than Carleton College (95% vs. 93%)
  • Graduates from Pomona College earn on average $4,900 more per year than Carleton College graduates after ten years. ($70,500 vs. $65,600)
  • Pomona College students graduate with a $8,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Carleton College graduates. ($11,000 vs. $19,500)
  • Pomona graduates are paying $88 less per month on federal student loans than Carleton College graduates. ($113 vs. $201)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/