Pomona College

Claremont, CA · founded 1887 · 1,700 students · liberal arts college · SCIAC

Known for: Pomona is the founding member of the Claremont Colleges consortium, offering the resources of a small liberal arts college combined with the academic and social opportunities of a larger university. It is known for its sunny Southern California location and strong academics.

Rankings

U.S. News liberal arts: #3
Forbes: #11

Top programmes

Economics
Neuroscience
Computer Science
Mathematics
Public Policy Analysis
Chemistry

Notable alumni

Kris Kristofferson — Singer-songwriter and actor
Roy Disney — Former senior executive for The Walt Disney Company
Myrlie Evers-Williams — Civil rights activist and former chair of the NAACP
Robert Shaw — Academy Award-winning sound editor
James K. Polk — 11th President of the United States (attended for one year before transferring)
Larry Niven — Hugo and Nebula Award-winning science fiction author
Michele Tafoya — Sportscaster and television personality
Bill Keller — Former executive editor of The New York Times

Traditions

Ski-Beach Day
Yule Ball
Pomona-Pitzer Football Game
4/7/0 Celebration

If Pomona College were…

As a food: Gjusta breakfast in Venice — California-perfect without trying too hard: fresh, beautiful, high-quality ingredients, effortlessly sophisticated. You're getting the same intellectual nutrition as East Coast peers but with better weather and less neur
As an athlete: Stephen Curry — Elite but humble, West Coast through and through, makes the impossible look easy and fun. Pomona's academic rigor rivals anywhere, but the vibe is 'we're all in this together' rather than cutthroat competition.
As a person alive today: Kris Kristofferson — Pomona alum, Rhodes Scholar, and renaissance man who chose creative authenticity over conventional prestige. Brilliant but laid-back, equally comfortable in academic and artistic worlds — peak Pomona energy.
As a historical figure: John Wooden — Coached at UCLA but embodied Pomona's philosophy: excellence through collaboration, discipline without ego, and building character alongside achievement. West Coast wisdom meets uncompromising standards.
As a movie or TV show: The Social Network — Elite intellectuals in California sunshine, building something ambitious while everyone else is at the party. Pomona's got the brains and resources of Harvard but trades the neurotic intensity for palm trees and collabor
As a US president: Barack Obama — Intellectually rigorous but approachable, brings people together across differences, and makes hard things look effortless. Pomona's that rare combination of elite academics and genuine warmth — the president everyone ac
As a city: Barcelona — Sophisticated European-level culture with Mediterranean ease, beautiful architecture (thanks, Spanish Colonial Revival), perfect weather, and a lifestyle that balances serious work with serious enjoyment. Cosmopolitan bu
As an element: Gold — Precious, stable, doesn't tarnish, and literally glows in California sunlight. Pomona's got the same endowment-per-student as the East Coast elite but without the corrosive competitive culture — all the value, none of th
As a car: 2023 Rivian R1T — Southern California's smart, sunny, collaborative overachiever—top-tier engineering in a laid-back package, expensive but unpretentious. Academic excellence meets outdoor adventure without the Ivy stress.

Campus life

Pomona offers a relaxed yet intellectually vibrant Southern California lifestyle. Students enjoy a strong sense of community on its beautiful campus while having full access to the social and academic life of the other Claremont Colleges. The vibe is active, outdoorsy, and collaborative.