Pomona Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

Pomona College admitted 861 students from a pool of 12,470 applicants for the Class of 2029, resulting in an overall acceptance rate of 6.90%, one of the lowest among liberal arts colleges.

Pomona has not yet released detailed admissions statistics for the Class of 2030, including applicant numbers and acceptance rates for Early Decision (ED) and Regular Decision (RD).

In this blog, we’ll examine Pomona’s most recent available admissions data, including its overall, ED, RD, waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates, and explore how these numbers have evolved over the years.

• Pomona Acceptance Rates
• Pomona Early Decision Acceptance Rate
• Pomona Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Pomona Transfer Acceptance Rate
• Pomona Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Pomona Acceptance Rates

Pomona’s acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 declined slightly to 6.90%, down from 7.09% for the Class of 2028, continuing the college’s trend toward greater selectivity.

Pomona received 12,249 applications and admitted 868 students for the Class of 2028. The following year, applications rose to 12,470 while admits declined slightly to 861, contributing to the lower acceptance rate.

Here’s a complete picture of Pomona’s declining acceptance rate over time:

Note: All data has been compiled from Pomona’s Common Data Set.

Pomona College has seen steady growth in applications over the past decade, rising from 9,045 applicants for the Class of 2021 to 12,470 for the Class of 2029. Meanwhile, the number of admitted students has remained relatively consistent, typically ranging around 800 admits each year.

With applications increasing while the number of available spots has stayed fairly stable, Pomona’s acceptance rate has gradually declined, making admission more competitive. The highest acceptance rate in this period was 8.62% for the Class of 2024, while the lowest was 6.64% for the Class of 2025.

Pomona Early Decision Acceptance Rate

The most recent ED data comes from the Class of 2029, when 1,656 students applied and 227 were admitted, yielding a 13.71% acceptance rate. This represents a slight increase in admitted students compared with the Class of 2028, when 224 applicants were admitted from a pool of 1,726, resulting in a 12.98% ED acceptance rate.

While Pomona’s early round remains highly selective, the ED acceptance rate is still higher than both the college’s overall and RD acceptance rates.

Pomona Early Decision acceptance rate trends

Pomona’s early admission data reveal a steady rise in competitiveness over the past decade. Here’s a breakdown:

Note: All ED data has been sourced from Pomona’s Common Data Set.

Pomona’s ED acceptance rate has declined as application volume increased while the number of early admission spots remained relatively stable. The rate reached a high of 19.26% for the Class of 2021 and fell to 12.54% for the Class of 2027.

Over the same period, the ED applicant pool grew from 1,080 applicants for the Class of 2021 to roughly 1,650–1,700 in recent cycles, while the number of admits generally stayed close to about 200 offers each year.

Pomona Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

For the Class of 2029, Pomona received 10,814 RD applications and admitted 634 students, resulting in an RD acceptance rate of 5.86%. This represents a slight decrease from the 6.12% RD acceptance rate for the Class of 2028.

Even with these small year-to-year changes, Pomona’s RD round remains far more competitive than ED. With an RD acceptance rate of 5.86%, roughly 1 in 17 applicants earned admission through the regular cycle.

Pomona Regular Decision acceptance rate trends

Here’s how Pomona’s RD acceptance rates have gradually declined over the years:

Note: RD figures are estimates derived by subtracting ED data from overall totals in Pomona’s Common Data Set.

Pomona College’s RD applicant pool has increased from 7,965 applicants for the Class of 2021 to 10,814 for the Class of 2029. During this period, however, the number of students admitted has remained fairly consistent, typically ranging from about 550 to 600 admits per year.

Between the Class of 2024 and the Class of 2025, the RD acceptance rate ranged from 7.69% at its highest to 5.65% at its lowest. This tightening occurred as demand continued to rise while the number of available seats remained limited.

Pomona Transfer Acceptance Rate

The most recent available Pomona transfer data comes from Fall 2025, with an acceptance rate of 10.98%. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2025 transfer data is from Pomona’s Common Data Set for 2025-2026, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2029 first-year admissions data.

Pomona’s transfer admission process is highly competitive due to the limited number of available spaces each year. For Fall 2025, the college received 519 transfer applications and admitted 57 students, resulting in a 10.98% transfer acceptance rate.

While selective, this rate is higher than Pomona’s overall acceptance rate of 6.90%. However, because most seats are filled through first-year admissions, transfer opportunities depend on available openings, keeping the process competitive.

Pomona Waitlist Acceptance Rate

The Class of 2029 shows a 1.76% waitlist acceptance rate. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Waitlist data is gathered from Pomona’s latest Common Data Set.

Pomona’s waitlist offers very limited chances of admission. For the Class of 2029, 1,017 applicants were placed on the waitlist, and 716 chose to remain on it. Of those who confirmed their spot, only 31 students were eventually admitted, resulting in a 1.76% waitlist acceptance rate.

This figure is far lower than Pomona’s overall acceptance rate of 6.90%. Because admissions from the waitlist depend on available spaces after enrollment decisions, movement is typically limited and unpredictable.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Pomona’s current acceptance rate?

The most recent overall acceptance rate for Pomona College is 6.90% for the Class of 2029. In that admissions cycle, 12,470 students applied, and 861 applicants received offers of admission.

2. Is it easier to get into Pomona through Early Decision or Regular Decision?

Historically, Pomona’s ED acceptance rate is higher than its RD rate. For the Class of 2029, Pomona’s Early Decision acceptance rate was 13.71%, compared with 5.86% for Regular Decision, though the early pool typically includes many highly committed and academically strong applicants.

3. How hard is it to transfer to Pomona?

Transfer admission to Pomona is quite competitive. For Fall 2025, the college had a 10.98% transfer acceptance rate. While selective, this rate is higher than Pomona’s overall acceptance rate of 6.90% for the Class of 2029.

4. What are my chances of getting off Pomona’s waitlist?

Waitlist admission at Pomona can be unpredictable and highly limited. For the Class of 2029, 1.76% of waitlisted students were admitted, showing how few spots typically open after the initial admissions cycle.

5. Why is Pomona’s acceptance rate so low?

Pomona’s acceptance rate is low because applications far exceed the number of available seats in each incoming class. With around 800 students admitted each year from more than 12,000 applicants, the college’s small size and strong academic reputation contribute to its consistently competitive admissions process.

Takeaways

• Pomona College’s acceptance rate has become increasingly competitive over time, declining from 8.36% for the Class of 2021 to 6.90% for the Class of 2029.
• Applying through ED can offer a statistical advantage. For the Class of 2029, Pomona admitted 13.71% of ED applicants, compared with 5.86% in the Regular Decision round. However, the early applicant pool typically includes many highly qualified students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the college.
• Other admission pathways are even less predictable. For Fall 2025, Pomona reported a 10.98% transfer acceptance rate, while the Class of 2029 waitlist acceptance rate was just 1.76%.
• Given Pomona’s highly selective admissions environment, submitting a thoughtful and well-structured application is essential. Careful preparation with a college admissions expert can help you clearly present your academic interests, highlight meaningful achievements, and stand out in Pomona’s competitive admissions process.