Pomona College
Pomona College
1. Introduction
Pomona College, founded in 1887 and located in Claremont, California, is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts colleges. Known for its rigorous academics, intimate learning environment, and commitment to social responsibility, Pomona is the founding member of the Claremont Colleges Consortium, which offers students the resources of a larger university while preserving the personal attention of a small college. With a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary education, undergraduate research, and civic engagement, Pomona has produced influential alumni in politics, science, the arts, and beyond.
2. History and Founding: Pomona College
Pomona College was established by a group of Congregationalists who wanted to recreate a "college of the New England type" in Southern California. Classes began in 1888 in a rented house in Pomona before moving to Claremont. Over the next century, the college grew in size, prestige, and influence.
Notably, Pomona laid the foundation for the Claremont Colleges in the 1920s, a consortium of adjacent institutions that includes:
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Claremont McKenna College
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Scripps College
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Harvey Mudd College
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Pitzer College
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Claremont Graduate University
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Keck Graduate Institute
This model allows Pomona students to access the academic and extracurricular offerings of multiple institutions while retaining a tight-knit college experience.
3. Location and Campus
Pomona is located in Claremont, a quiet, tree-lined city at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, about 35 miles east of Los Angeles. The 140-acre campus features Spanish-style architecture, manicured quads, modern science labs, and historic landmarks.
Key Facilities:
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Bridges Auditorium and Bridges Hall of Music for performances
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Seaver Laboratory for sciences
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Studio Art Hall for visual arts
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Pomona College Museum of Art (now part of The Benton Museum of Art)
The college's location offers the best of both worlds—peaceful suburban life and easy access to Southern California’s cultural and professional hubs.
4. Academics: Pomona College
Pomona College offers rigorous and personalized education through a broad liberal arts curriculum. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1 and average class sizes under 15, students enjoy deep engagement with faculty and peers.
4.1 Majors and Minors
Pomona offers over 48 majors and numerous interdisciplinary programs. Popular areas of study include:
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Economics
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Psychology
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Computer Science
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Political Science
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Biology
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Environmental Analysis
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Media Studies
Students can also design individual majors, especially with access to courses from the other Claremont Colleges.
4.2 Curriculum
The curriculum is rooted in critical thinking, writing, and interdisciplinary learning. While there are distribution requirements, students have broad flexibility in how they fulfill them.
Key components include:
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First-Year Critical Inquiry Seminar
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Breadth of Study (area requirements)
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Capstone or senior thesis in many departments
5. Faculty and Research: Pomona College
Pomona’s faculty comprises scholars, researchers, and practitioners who are leaders in their fields. Nearly all classes are taught by full-time professors, and the college maintains a strong commitment to undergraduate research.
5.1 Faculty Excellence
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Over 200 full-time faculty members
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Numerous Fulbright Scholars, Guggenheim Fellows, and award-winning researchers
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Many are published authors, composers, or artists
5.2 Research Opportunities
Pomona provides robust support for undergraduate research:
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Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) offers stipends and mentorship
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Opportunities to co-author papers and present at academic conferences
6. Admissions and Selectivity: Pomona College
6.1 Admissions Criteria
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Holistic review process
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Emphasis on academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, leadership, and community involvement
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Test-optional policy (as of recent years)
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Interviews and demonstrated interest are considered
6.2 Student Profile
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Median SAT range: 1450–1550 (for those who submit scores)
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Median GPA: 4.0 (unweighted)
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Students from all 50 U.S. states and over 50 countries
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Nearly 60% students of color and 20% international students
7. Student Life
Pomona’s vibrant student life blends intellectual engagement with a diverse array of extracurricular activities, traditions, and cultural events.
7.1 Campus Organizations
Pomona students participate in over 250 clubs and organizations, including:
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A cappella groups and theater troupes
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Debate and Model UN
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Environmental and sustainability clubs
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Student government (ASPC)
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Identity-based affinity groups (e.g., Latinx Alliance, BSU, QPOC)
7.2 Traditions
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Ski-Beach Day: A unique Southern California tradition where students ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon
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Orientation Adventure (OA): First-years go on outdoor trips to bond with classmates
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47 Society: Embraces the mystique of the number 47, a quirky Pomona hallmark
8. Athletics: Pomona College
Pomona’s athletic teams, the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens, compete in NCAA Division III and are known for their scholar-athlete culture. The athletic program is shared with Pitzer College.
Facilities include:
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Rains Center (gym and indoor courts)
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Voelkel Gymnasium
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Pauley Tennis Complex
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Strehle Track and Smiley Hall Pool
Pomona-Pitzer fields teams in sports like soccer, basketball, swimming, cross-country, and baseball.
9. Arts and Culture
The arts are a vital part of Pomona’s identity. Whether it’s music, theater, visual arts, or dance, students have access to world-class instruction and performance opportunities.
Opportunities include:
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Benton Museum of Art with rotating exhibitions
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Bridges Hall of Music concerts
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Annual musical theater productions
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Studio art, photography, and sculpture facilities
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Access to LA’s museums, concerts, and art scene
10. The Claremont Colleges Consortium: Pomona College
One of Pomona’s greatest advantages is its membership in the Claremont Colleges Consortium, which allows cross-registration, shared libraries, events, and clubs among 7 colleges.
Academic Collaboration
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Students can take classes at Harvey Mudd (STEM), Claremont McKenna (econ/politics), Scripps (humanities), and Pitzer (social justice).
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Shared resources include the Honnold/Mudd Library, Career Center, and campus safety.
This collaborative structure gives students access to 5,000+ undergraduates, 2,500+ courses, and a dynamic social and academic ecosystem.
11. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
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Over 50% of students identify as students of color
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About 20% are first-generation college students
Programs supporting equity:
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Mentor programs for first-gen students
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Diversity Peer Mentors
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Office of Black Student Affairs, LatinX Student Affairs, Queer Resource Center
12. Financial Aid and Affordability
Pomona is one of the few colleges that are need-blind and meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for domestic and international students.
12.1 Key Stats:
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No-loan financial aid packages for most students
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About 60% of students receive aid
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Average grant: Over $55,000 per year
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Work-study opportunities and summer internship funding
Pomona’s commitment to access makes it one of the most affordable elite colleges for lower- and middle-income families.
13. Career Services and Outcomes: Pomona College
Pomona alumni go on to excel in academia, business, the arts, public service, and many other fields.
13.1 Career Preparation
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Pomona College Career Development Office (CDO) offers advising, resume workshops, interview prep
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Internship funding through the Pomona College Internship Program (PCIP)
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On-campus recruiting and grad school advising
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Strong pipelines to consulting, tech, education, and nonprofit sectors
13.2 Graduate Success
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~90% of graduates are employed or in graduate school within 6 months
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High acceptance rates to top law, medical, and graduate schools
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Many win Fulbright, Watson, Rhodes, Marshall, and Truman scholarships
14. Notable Alumni
Pomona alumni include leaders in every field. Notables include:
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Myrlie Evers-Williams – Civil rights activist
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Kris Kristofferson – Musician and actor
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James Turrell – Renowned visual artist
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Chris Burden – Conceptual artist
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Bill Keller – Former executive editor of The New York Times
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Michael J. Armacost – Former U.S. Ambassador
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Jennicet Gutiérrez – Trans activist
Pomona’s alumni community remains highly engaged, offering mentorship, networking, and philanthropic support.
15. Rankings and Recognition
Pomona College is consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the U.S.
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U.S. News & World Report: Top 5 national liberal arts colleges
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Forbes and Niche: Among the top in return on investment, diversity, and student satisfaction
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Princeton Review: High marks for financial aid, dorms, and academics
Its mix of academic excellence, accessibility, and quality of life makes Pomona a top choice for high-achieving students.
16. Future Vision and Strategic Priorities: Pomona College
Pomona’s recent and ongoing initiatives focus on:
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Expanding need-based aid and affordability
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Investing in STEM infrastructure (new science buildings and labs)
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Growing support for mental health and wellness
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Enhancing sustainability efforts and green practices
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Increasing global partnerships and study abroad access
The college continues to uphold its mission of educating students for lives of leadership, service, and lifelong learning.
17. Conclusion
Pomona College offers a unique educational experience—combining the rigor and resources of a top-tier research institution with the personal touch of a small liberal arts college. With its ideal location in Southern California, diverse student body, close faculty relationships, and commitment to excellence, Pomona continues to shape global citizens and thought leaders.
For students seeking both academic depth and a holistic college experience, Pomona stands as a model of what liberal arts education can achieve.
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