Head-to-Head Comparison
Pomona College vs Claremont McKenna College
- Pomona Wins
- 20
- Tied
- 14
- Claremont McKenna Wins
- 14
Direct Answer
For overall financial value, Pomona College offers a significantly safer investment tier. While Claremont McKenna College achieves a higher graduation rate (93% vs 93%), its annual cost of attendance sits at $28,849 compared to Pomona College's $19,285. For students prioritizing lower student debt over initial institution prestige, Pomona College's lower price point delivers a highly efficient debt-to-earnings path.
48 data points compared · Sources: College Scorecard, Opportunity Insights, Times Higher Education, IPEDS
When to Pick Each School
Pomona
- Lower cost: Average net price of $19,285, roughly $9,564 a year less
- Less debt: Median debt of $11,782, the lower of the two
- More selective: Admits 7% of applicants, which makes for a more competitive peer group
Claremont McKenna
- Higher earnings: Median earnings of $104,736 ten years after enrollment, 35% more than Pomona College
- Social mobility: Chetty mobility rate of 3%, the stronger record of moving students up the income ladder
The Actual Decision
What are you really choosing between?
Pomona graduates concentrate in Social Sciences (20% of degrees); Claremont McKenna in Social Sciences (43%). If you already know the field you want, the choice is mostly made for you.
Based on each school's share of degrees by field (College Scorecard). It shows where graduates actually concentrate, not the only path a school offers.
Which School Fits You?
Pick Claremont McKenna College over Pomona College. Median earnings of $104,736 ten years after enrollment vs $77,779.
Pick Pomona College over Claremont McKenna College. Net price $19,285 vs $28,849.
Pick Claremont McKenna College over Pomona College. 3% mobility rate vs 2%.
Key Metrics at a Glance
Graduation Rate
Earnings (10yr)
Avg Net Price
Median Debt
The Analysis
Verdict
Pomona College and Claremont McKenna College split the core measures almost evenly. Neither comes out a clean winner, so the choice rests on which of these dimensions you care about most.
Getting in
Pomona College is the harder admit. It takes 7% of applicants, while Claremont McKenna College takes 10%. Its entering class also posts the higher average SAT, 1,534 to 1,527.
So what: If test scores and a high-scoring peer group matter to you, Pomona College sets the higher bar. The less selective school is easier to get into, which can work in your favor rather than against it.
What it costs
On price, Pomona College comes out ahead. Its average net price after aid is $19,285, about $9,564 a year below Claremont McKenna College's $28,849. Graduates of Pomona College also borrow less: median debt of $11,782, against $13,500.
So what: Over four years, the gap adds up to about $38,256 before any change in aid. Choosing Pomona College leaves that money available for graduate school, savings, or simply less borrowing.
What graduates earn
Ten years after enrollment, Claremont McKenna College graduates report median earnings of $104,736, compared with $77,779 at Pomona College. That is a 35% advantage. Set against borrowing, Claremont McKenna College has the lower debt-to-earnings ratio, 0.13x to 0.15x.
So what: An earnings gap of 35% this early in a career tends to widen, since raises build on the higher base. Of the measures on this page, this one carries the most financial weight.
Moving people up
Claremont McKenna College does more to move students up the income ladder. Its Chetty mobility rate is 3%; at Pomona College, it is 2%. Claremont McKenna College also enrolls the larger share of low-income students: 4.3% come from the bottom income quintile, versus 3.7%.
So what: For first-generation and low-income students, Claremont McKenna College offers the stronger statistical shot at reaching the top of the income distribution. The gap is wide enough to weigh in any access-minded decision.
Recommendation
Bottom line: pick Pomona College to keep costs and debt down; pick Claremont McKenna College for the higher earnings ceiling.
Data certainty: High. Both schools report 6 of 6 core signals used here, so every comparison above matches reported data against reported data.
Counterintuitive Insights
The cheaper school is not the lower-earning one here. Pomona College saves about $9,564 a year, yet Claremont McKenna College graduates earn $26,957 more ten years after enrollment. The cost advantage and the earnings premium sit at different schools, so your time horizon decides which counts more.
Pomona College is harder to get into, with a 7% admit rate, but Claremont McKenna College posts the higher mobility rate, at 3%. Selectivity and income mobility measure different things; here, the easier admit does more for the low-income students it enrolls.
Their academic identities diverge. Pomona College concentrates enrollment in Computer Science & IT, while Claremont McKenna College leans toward Business & Marketing. That split shapes which recruiters come to campus and what your classmates study.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
No strong negative signals — Pomona competes well across the dimensions measured.
- Cost-conscious students: net price of $28,849 runs well above Pomona College's $19,285.
- STEM and CS-focused students: tech programs are a smaller part of Claremont McKenna College's enrollment, and Pomona College is stronger here.
Full Data Breakdown
Inside the admissions office
Claremont McKenna holds onto its admits more tightly: 51% of admitted students enroll, versus 47% at Pomona — a sign of how often it wins head-to-head choices. Claremont McKenna offers a binding Early Decision round that can lift your odds; Pomona does not, so there is no early-commitment lever to pull there.
Source: each school's published Common Data Set, via collegedata.fyi.
Overview 5 metrics
Admissions 4 metrics
Admissions Strategy (Common Data Set) 6 metrics
Cost & Financial Aid 9 metrics
Academics 5 metrics
Student Body 6 metrics
Outcomes 6 metrics
Social Mobility (Chetty) 4 metrics
Social Capital 3 metrics
The Overviews
Pomona College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofit
Pomona College has an impressive graduation rate of 93%. This high percentage reflects the school's commitment to student success and the supportive academic environment it fosters. With a small enrollment of just 1,666 students, classes are intimate, allowing for personalized education and close interaction with faculty.
In terms of outcomes, graduates from Pomona earn a median salary of $77,779 ten years after entering the workforce. While specific mobility data isn't available, this strong earning potential suggests that students from lower-income backgrounds have opportunities to improve their economic standing after graduation. The school has a Pell Grant rate of 20%, indicating that financial aid plays a role in its diverse student body.
The net price of attendance is $19,285, and the median debt upon graduation is relatively low at $11,782. This combination makes Pomona a financially viable option for many students. Those who thrive here are often driven, academically curious, and looking for a rigorous education in fields like social sciences, biology, computer science, and physical sciences.
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofit
Claremont McKenna College has an impressive graduation rate of 93%. This high rate reflects the college's commitment to student success and academic support. With a low acceptance rate of 10%, it attracts motivated students who are ready for a rigorous academic environment.
According to Chetty/Opportunity Insights data, specific mobility metrics for Claremont McKenna are not available. However, the college's focus on social sciences, business, and technology indicates a strong preparation for the workforce. Graduates typically earn an average of $104,736 within ten years, suggesting a solid return on investment for students.
The net price for attending Claremont McKenna is $28,849, and the median student debt stands at $13,500. This financial framework makes it accessible for a range of students, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds, as evidenced by the 18% Pell Grant rate. Students who thrive here are often those seeking a challenging academic experience and who are interested in fields like business, psychology, and the sciences.
Rankings They Appear On
Pomona College and Claremont McKenna College appear together in 12 rankings. On the Best Communications Colleges in California, Pomona College ranks #1 — Pomona College outranks Claremont McKenna College by 1 positions.
Top Degree Programs
Both schools share Sociology as their top enrolled program field, comprising 20% of Pomona's student body and 43% of Claremont McKenna's.
Career Pathways
Program strengths at these schools feed into careers like Software Developer, Data Scientist, Cybersecurity Analyst (for Pomona) and Software Developer, Data Scientist, Cybersecurity Analyst (for Claremont McKenna).
The two schools feed different job markets. Pomona College is strongest in Computer Science & IT, Physical Sciences, while Claremont McKenna College concentrates in Business & Marketing, Psychology. Those concentrations determine which recruiters show up on campus and where alumni cluster by industry. Match the school's program strengths to the field you plan to enter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it harder to get into Pomona College or Claremont McKenna College?
Pomona College is harder to get into, admitting 7% of applicants compared with 10% at Claremont McKenna College.
Which is more affordable, Pomona College or Claremont McKenna College?
Pomona College is more affordable, with an average net price of $19,285 after aid versus $28,849 at Claremont McKenna College.
Do Pomona College or Claremont McKenna College graduates earn more?
Claremont McKenna College graduates earn more: median earnings of $104,736 ten years after enrollment, versus $77,779 at Pomona College.
Which has a better graduation rate, Pomona College or Claremont McKenna College?
Claremont McKenna College has the higher graduation rate, 93% versus 93%.
Pomona College vs Claremont McKenna College: which is better for social mobility?
Claremont McKenna College is the stronger driver of upward mobility, with a Chetty mobility rate of 3% versus 2%.
Should you choose Pomona College or Claremont McKenna College?
It depends on what you weigh most. Choose Pomona College if affordability and lower debt come first; choose Claremont McKenna College if you're optimizing for post-grad earnings. The two schools win on different measures, so the better fit is the one whose strengths match your priorities.
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