Pomona vs. Stanford

Deciding between Pomona College and Stanford University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Pomona College
Stanford University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Pomona Claremont, CA
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • Pomona Large Suburban
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Pomona 1,700
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • Pomona Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Pomona #20
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Pomona -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • Pomona Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Pomona
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • Pomona $21,394
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • Pomona $19,938
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Pomona $65,362
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Pomona 59%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Pomona 12,249
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • Pomona 868
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Pomona 7.1%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Pomona 50.2%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pomona 1530
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pomona 34
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Pomona 3.89
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Pomona A
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Pomona Elite
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Pomona Extreme
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Pomona 33/35
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Pomona 1490/1560
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Pomona Test optional
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Pomona Jan 8, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Pomona 7:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Pomona
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Pomona 95%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Pomona $70,500
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Pomona -
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Pomona $11,000
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Pomona $113
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Pomona 45%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • Pomona 55%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Pomona Very High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • Pomona No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • Pomona 40%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • Pomona 14%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • Pomona 7%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Pomona 15%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • Pomona 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Pomona 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Pomona 8%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • Pomona 10%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Pomona 6%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Pomona 25%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Pomona 50%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Pomona Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Pomona No
  • Stanford Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Pomona Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Pomona No
  • Stanford No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Pomona No
  • Stanford Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Stanford University is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 1,700 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Pomona vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pomona or Stanford? 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 Stanford ($19,938 vs. $25,078).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stanford University are 0.4% lower than at Pomona College ($21,315 vs. $21,394).
  • Stanford University is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pomona (about $490 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $65,420.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Stanford than at Pomona College (about $490 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $65,420.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at Pomona College (61% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 4.2% larger than aid received by Stanford University students ($65,362 vs. $62,755).

Pomona vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 20 points higher than at Pomona (1530).
  • Incoming Pomona students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Stanford (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 1490/1560; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 33/35; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pomona - Test optional; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Pomona Jan 8, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Pomona (3.89).
  • Pomona has a higher acceptance rate (7.1%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.2% at Pomona vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

Pomona vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pomona and Stanford? 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).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Pomona College's (95%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $52,400 more per year than Pomona graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $70,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $1,475 lower median loan debt than Stanford graduates ($11,000 vs. $12,475).
  • Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Stanford graduates ($113 vs. $128).

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.