Pomona College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Pomona College charges a net price of $19,285/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $77,140. Graduates earn a median $77,779 ten years after entry, $29,419/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 2.6 years — a 20-year net return of $511,240, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Pomona College's 2.6-year payback ranks #132 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 90% of them, and #35 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $19,285/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $77,140 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $77,779 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $29,419/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $11,782 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 2.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $511,240 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Pomona College's own numbers. Net price $19,285 × 4 years = $77,140 total. Median earnings $77,779 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $29,419 a year of premium. $77,140 ÷ $29,419 = 2.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $511,240. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Pomona College students graduate with?
A median $11,782 in federal loans among completers, or 15% of the $77,779 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Pomona College students graduate?
93% finish their degree. Spread the $77,140 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $82,946 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Pomona College expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $19,285 net price runs $620 below the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, and $2,480 less across the full degree.