Pomona vs. Thomas Aquinas College

Comparable Facts

Compare Pomona College in Claremont, CA with Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pomona College is larger than Thomas Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (1,700 students vs. 566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pomona College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Thomas Aquinas College is in Santa Paula, CA (Distant Rural setting).
• Pomona College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Thomas Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pomona College 7:1; Thomas Aquinas College 11:1.

Pomona vs. Thomas Aquinas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pomona or Thomas Aquinas College? 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 Thomas Aquinas College ($19,938 vs. $24,820).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Aquinas College are 47.6% lower than at Pomona College ($11,200 vs. $21,394).
• Pomona College is 116.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas Aquinas College (about $35,220 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $30,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 116.6% higher at Pomona than at Thomas Aquinas College (about $35,220 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $30,200.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Thomas Aquinas College than at Pomona College (73% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 251.3% larger than aid received by Thomas Aquinas College students ($65,362 vs. $18,606).

Pomona vs. Thomas Aquinas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pomona or Thomas Aquinas College? 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 Thomas Aquinas College and Pomona.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Pomona College (1530) is 220 points higher than at Thomas Aquinas College (1310).
• Incoming Pomona students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Thomas Aquinas College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 1490/1560; Thomas Aquinas College 1220/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 33/35; Thomas Aquinas College 28/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pomona - Test optional; Thomas Aquinas College - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pomona Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pomona students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Thomas Aquinas College (3.8).
• Thomas Aquinas College has a higher acceptance rate (83.1%) than Pomona (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.2% at Pomona vs. 67.7% at Thomas Aquinas College.

Pomona vs. Thomas Aquinas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pomona and Thomas Aquinas College? 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 Thomas Aquinas College's (69%).
• Graduates from Pomona College earn a median of about $24,800 more per year than Thomas Aquinas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,500 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Thomas Aquinas College graduates ($11,000 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Thomas Aquinas College graduates ($113 vs. $175).

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.