Pomona College vs Stanford University

Stanford University is the more selective of the two at 4%, versus 7% at Pomona College. Here is how they compare on selectivity, test scores, and what they weigh, plus a free way to estimate your odds at each.

Pomona College
Most selective
7%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1540
Private · California
Stanford University
Most selective
4%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1570
Private · California

Pomona College vs Stanford University: the differences that matter

How Pomona College and Stanford University stack up on selectivity, scores, and what they value.

Stanford University is meaningfully harder to get into, admitting about 4% of applicants versus 7% at Pomona College, a gap of roughly 3 percentage points. Treat Stanford University as the bigger reach of the two when you build your list.

The two also read applications a little differently. Pomona College leans more on a similar mix of factors, while Stanford University puts more weight on class rank, standardized test scores. The same profile can land differently at each, which is why a per-school estimate matters more than a single GPA.

On test scores, Pomona College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1540 and Stanford University's is around 1570. Admitted students at Stanford University post somewhat higher scores. Run your own numbers below to see where you stand at each.

What each school weighs

Factors either school weighs heavily, side by side.

FactorPomona CollegeStanford University
Rigor of secondary school recordvery importantvery important
Academic GPAvery importantvery important
Class rankconsideredimportant
Standardized test scoresimportantvery important
Application essayvery importantvery important
Recommendationsvery importantvery important
Extracurricular activitiesvery importantvery important
Talent / abilityvery importantvery important
Calculate your chances at both →

Frequently asked questions

Is Pomona College or Stanford University harder to get into?

Stanford University is harder to get into, with a 4% acceptance rate versus 7% at Pomona College.

What's the difference in SAT scores between Pomona College and Stanford University?

Pomona College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1540, and Stanford University's is around 1570.

What are my chances at Pomona College and Stanford University?

That depends on your full profile. CollegeCalcAI gives a free, personalized estimate for each school in a few minutes.