Pomona College vs Macalester College
Pomona College and Macalester College, both highly regarded liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Pomona, nestled in Claremont, California, boasts a lower acceptance rate (9%) and a higher graduation rate (92%) compared to Macalester's 28% acceptance rate and 84% graduation rate. While Pomona's student body is slightly larger, both colleges share a commitment to small class sizes and personalized attention. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further differences, including popular majors, student demographics, and financial aid opportunities, to determine which college best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Macalester College |
![]() Pomona College |
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Overview |
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Location | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Claremont, California |
Campus setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 96.0% | 96.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 31.3% | 6.6% |
Application fees | $40 | $70 |
SAT range | 1340 - 1515 | 1470 - 1570 |
ACT range | 29 - 33 | 33 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | 37.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 39.0% | 29.0% |
Total number of applicants | 9,046 | 11,620 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,828 | 771 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 601 | 451 |
Yield rate | 21.3% | 58.5% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $76,357 | $74,873 |
Average net price | $30,939 | $17,000 |
Tuition | $60,288 | $56,284 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,272
Meal plan:
$6,270
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Room/dormitory:
$10,666
Meal plan:
$7,858
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
87.0%
Average amount $42,832 |
57.0%
Average amount $53,094 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
39.0%
Average amount $4,799 |
4.0%
Average amount $4,273 |
Students taking out private loans |
29.0%
Average amount $4,321 |
6.0%
Average amount $11,349 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,244
Men 43.3% Women 56.7% |
1,764
Men 45.4% Women 54.6% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 13.5% | 11.3% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,332 | 1,612 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 7:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 89.7% | 93.0% |
Dropout rate | 10.0% | 4.3% |
Transferred out | N/A | 2.5% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Geography and Cartography (Bachelor's Degrees)
International/Global Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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