Pomona vs. USC

Deciding between Pomona College and University of Southern California? 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
University of Southern California

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Pomona Claremont, CA
  • USC Los Angeles, CA
  • Setting
  • Pomona Large Suburban
  • USC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Pomona 1,700
  • USC 46,566
  • Type
  • Pomona Private 4 Year
  • USC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Pomona #20
  • USC #37
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Pomona -
  • USC -
  • Status
  • Pomona Non-profit
  • USC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Pomona
  • USC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Pomona $65,420
  • USC $72,097
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Pomona $65,420
  • USC $72,097
  • Room & Board
  • Pomona $21,394
  • USC $19,931
  • Average Net Price
  • Pomona $19,938
  • USC $43,412
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Pomona $65,362
  • USC $46,897
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Pomona 59%
  • USC 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Pomona 12,249
  • USC 82,027
  • Admitted
  • Pomona 868
  • USC 8,050
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Pomona 7.1%
  • USC 9.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Pomona 50.2%
  • USC 43.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pomona 1530
  • USC 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pomona 34
  • USC 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Pomona 3.89
  • USC 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Pomona A
  • USC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Pomona Elite
  • USC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Pomona Extreme
  • USC Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Pomona 33/35
  • USC 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • Pomona 1490/1560
  • USC 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Pomona Test optional
  • USC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Pomona Jan 8, 2027
  • USC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Pomona 7:1
  • USC 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Pomona
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • USC
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Pomona 95%
  • USC 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Pomona $70,500
  • USC $85,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Pomona -
  • USC 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Pomona $11,000
  • USC $22,375
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Pomona $113
  • USC $231

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Pomona 45%
  • USC 47%
  • % Women
  • Pomona 55%
  • USC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Pomona Very High
  • USC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Pomona No
  • USC No
  • % White
  • Pomona 40%
  • USC 40%
  • % Asian
  • Pomona 14%
  • USC 22%
  • % Black
  • Pomona 7%
  • USC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Pomona 15%
  • USC 14%
  • % Native American
  • Pomona 0%
  • USC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Pomona 0%
  • USC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Pomona 8%
  • USC 5%
  • % International
  • Pomona 10%
  • USC 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Pomona 6%
  • USC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Pomona 25%
  • USC 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Pomona 50%
  • USC 39%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Pomona College in Claremont, CA with University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern California is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (46,566 students vs. 1,700 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Pomona College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); University of Southern California is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
  • Pomona College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Pomona College 7:1; University of Southern California 9:1.

Pomona vs. USC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pomona or USC? 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 USC ($19,938 vs. $43,412).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern California are 6.8% lower than at Pomona College ($19,931 vs. $21,394).
  • University of Southern California is 10.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pomona (about $6,677 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $65,420.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.2% higher at USC than at Pomona College (about $6,677 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $65,420.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern California than at Pomona College (70% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 39.4% larger than aid received by University of Southern California students ($65,362 vs. $46,897).

Pomona vs. USC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Pomona College (1530) is 30 points higher than at USC (1500).
  • Incoming Pomona students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at USC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 1490/1560; University of Southern California 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 33/35; University of Southern California 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pomona - Test optional; USC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Pomona Jan 8, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pomona students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at USC (3.83).
  • USC has a higher acceptance rate (9.8%) than Pomona (7.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.2% at Pomona vs. 43.3% at USC.

Pomona vs. USC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pomona and USC? 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 University of Southern California's (90%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern California earn a median of about $15,000 more per year than Pomona graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,500 vs. $70,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $11,375 lower median loan debt than USC graduates ($11,000 vs. $22,375).
  • Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $118 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USC graduates ($113 vs. $231).

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.