Pomona vs. Northwestern

Comparable Facts

Compare Pomona College in Claremont, CA with Northwestern University in Evanston, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northwestern University is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (23,856 students vs. 1,700 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pomona College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Northwestern University is in Evanston, IL (Small City setting).
• Pomona College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwestern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pomona College 7:1; Northwestern University 6:1.

Pomona vs. Northwestern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pomona or Northwestern? 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 Northwestern ($19,938 vs. $26,830).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern University are 1.3% lower than at Pomona College ($21,126 vs. $21,394).
• Northwestern University is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pomona (about $2,902 more per year; $68,322.00 vs. $65,420.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.4% higher at Northwestern than at Pomona College (about $2,902 more per year; $68,322.00 vs. $65,420.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pomona College than at Northwestern University (59% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 1.4% larger than aid received by Northwestern University students ($65,362 vs. $64,429).

Pomona vs. Northwestern Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northwestern University (1540) is 10 points higher than at Pomona (1530).
• Incoming Pomona students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Northwestern (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 1490/1560; Northwestern University 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 33/35; Northwestern University 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pomona - Test optional; Northwestern - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pomona Jan 8, 2027; Northwestern Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Pomona (3.89).
• Northwestern has a higher acceptance rate (7.7%) than Pomona (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.2% at Pomona vs. 55.3% at Northwestern.

Pomona vs. Northwestern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pomona and Northwestern? 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 Northwestern University's (94%).
• Graduates from Northwestern University earn a median of about $19,300 more per year than Pomona graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $70,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $8,378 lower median loan debt than Northwestern graduates ($11,000 vs. $19,378).
• Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $87 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern graduates ($113 vs. $200).

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.