Head-to-head comparison
Pomona College vs Pacific College: which has better ROI?
Option A Claremont, CA
Pomona College
- Net price / year
- $19,285
- Earnings, 10 years
- $77,779
- Payback
- 2.6 yrs
Option B Costa Mesa, CA
Pacific College
- Net price / year
- $29,363
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,064
- Payback
- 2.7 yrs
Pomona College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $77,140 in 2.6 years versus 2.7 years at Pacific College, on median earnings of $77,779 vs $70,064 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pomona College | Pacific College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,285 | $29,363 |
| Total net cost | $77,140 | $58,726 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $77,779 | $70,064 |
| Median debt | $11,782 | $22,469 |
| Payback | 2.6 yrs | 2.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $511,240 | $375,354 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pomona College or Pacific College?
Pomona College, at $19,285 a year after aid versus $29,363 — a gap of $10,078 a year, or $18,414 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Pomona College or Pacific College graduates earn more?
Pomona College graduates report a median $77,779 ten years after entry, $7,715 more than the $70,064 at Pacific College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Pomona College or Pacific College?
Pomona College: its completers carry a median $11,782 in federal loans versus $22,469 at Pacific College, a difference of $10,687. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
93% of students finish at Pomona College, against 63% at Pacific College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.