Pomona vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

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

Pomona College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (1,700 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Pomona vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pomona or Swarthmore? 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 Swarthmore ($19,938 vs. $22,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Swarthmore College are 5.1% lower than at Pomona College ($20,308 vs. $21,394).
• Swarthmore College is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pomona (about $74 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $65,420.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at Swarthmore than at Pomona College (about $74 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $65,420.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pomona College than at Swarthmore College (59% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 6% larger than aid received by Swarthmore College students ($65,362 vs. $61,634).

Pomona vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Pomona College (1530) is the same as at Swarthmore (1530).
• Incoming Pomona students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Swarthmore (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 1490/1560; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 33/35; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pomona - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pomona Jan 8, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Pomona (3.89).
• Swarthmore has a higher acceptance rate (7.5%) than Pomona (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.2% at Pomona vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Pomona vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pomona and Swarthmore? 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).

• The graduation rate at Pomona is the same as at Swarthmore College (95% vs. 95%).
• Graduates from Pomona College earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,500 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($11,000 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($113 vs. $201).

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.