Pomona vs. MHC

Comparable Facts

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

Mount Holyoke College is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (2,275 students vs. 1,700 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pomona College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Mount Holyoke College is in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Pomona College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pomona College 7:1; Mount Holyoke College 9:1.

Pomona vs. MHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pomona or MHC? 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 Pomona College than MHC ($19,938 vs. $32,526).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Holyoke College are 8% lower than at Pomona College ($19,684 vs. $21,394).
• Mount Holyoke College is 2.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pomona (about $1,598 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $65,420.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at MHC than at Pomona College (about $1,598 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $65,420.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Pomona College (77% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 24.7% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($65,362 vs. $52,418).

Pomona vs. MHC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pomona or MHC? 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 MHC and Pomona.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Pomona College (1530) is 70 points higher than at MHC (1460).
• Incoming Pomona students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at MHC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 1490/1560; Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 33/35; Mount Holyoke College 32/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pomona - Test optional; MHC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pomona Jan 8, 2027; MHC Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pomona students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at MHC (3.87).
• MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Pomona (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.2% at Pomona vs. 27.2% at MHC.

Pomona vs. MHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pomona and MHC? 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).

• Pomona College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Mount Holyoke College's (85%).
• Graduates from Pomona College earn a median of about $20,500 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,500 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $10,206 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($11,000 vs. $21,206).
• Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $106 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($113 vs. $219).

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.