Pomona vs. Oberlin

Comparable Facts

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

Oberlin College is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (2,909 students vs. 1,700 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Pomona vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pomona or Oberlin? 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 Oberlin ($19,938 vs. $51,624).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oberlin College are 8.8% lower than at Pomona College ($19,510 vs. $21,394).
• Oberlin College is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pomona (about $1,946 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $65,420.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3% higher at Oberlin than at Pomona College (about $1,946 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $65,420.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Pomona College (99% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 82.7% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($65,362 vs. $35,780).

Pomona vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Pomona College (1530) is 90 points higher than at Oberlin (1440).
• Incoming Pomona students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Oberlin).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 1490/1560; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 33/35; Oberlin College 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pomona - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pomona Jan 8, 2027; Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pomona students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
• Oberlin has a higher acceptance rate (34.2%) than Pomona (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.2% at Pomona vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

Pomona vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pomona and Oberlin? 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 Oberlin College's (88%).
• Graduates from Pomona College earn a median of about $26,600 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,500 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $15,579 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($11,000 vs. $26,579).
• Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $161 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($113 vs. $274).

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.