Pomona College's published cost of attendance is $85,300, but need-based aid reshapes that figure substantially across income levels. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $4,841, while middle-income families pay around $17,054, and higher-income families pay approximately $37,842.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $85,300 |
| Tuition and Fees | $65,420 |
| Room and Board | $21,394 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,100 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$66,015 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $19,285 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $4,841 |
| $30–48k | $7,026 |
| $48–75k | $17,054 |
| $75–110k | $15,719 |
| $110k+ | $37,842 |
Pomona College's published cost of attendance is $85,300, but need-based aid reshapes that figure substantially across income levels. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $4,841, while middle-income families pay around $17,054, and higher-income families pay approximately $37,842. Azimuth ranks Pomona College #272 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Pomona College meets demonstrated financial need in full under its current financial aid policies, and the college does not include loans in its standard aid packages — meaning qualifying students can graduate without federal student loan debt as part of their aid award. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the college participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs. For a deeper look at how published costs compare with what families actually pay, the net price illusion analysis explains the gap between sticker price and net price across institution types. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $11,782, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $27,861; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $77,544, median federal debt of $11,782 projects to a monthly payment of about $133 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt is well below typical first-year earnings — generally considered very manageable.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
Graduates of Pomona College earn median earnings of $77,544 four years after enrollment, placing Pomona College in the 85.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $57,042 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Azimuth ranks Pomona College #106 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The strength of these outcomes reflects both the caliber of Pomona College's academic programs and the career trajectories its graduates follow — particularly into analytical, research-oriented, and professional fields across CA's diversified economy and beyond. Computer Science combines the largest cohort scale with strong earnings, making it the program that contributes most to Pomona College's overall return profile. Computer Science is the highest-earning program, with 50 graduates earning median earnings of $217,051 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #7 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions per the program-ranking methodology. Economics ranks #65 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 47 graduates earning median earnings of $96,702. Among the most popular fields, Mathematics program graduates 31 students, Political Science graduates 25, and Communication and Media Studies graduates 18 — reflecting Pomona College's concentration in Social Sciences, which accounts for 23% of degree output, followed by Arts at 9% and other STEM fields at 5%.
