United States

Pomona College

Verified 3 Nov 2026 against official sources

Funding

Pomona is NEED-AWARE when admitting international applicants; financial need is considered during selection. For admitted international students who requested aid when applying, Pomona meets 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans in the package. Aid is need-based and Pomona offers no merit scholarships; individual student/family contribution may remain.

Eligibility

Selectivity context: Exceptionally selective. Bangladeshi first-year applicants eligible. SAT/ACT permanently test-optional. If schooling was not primarily in English, an English test such as DET/IELTS/TOEFL is required; current international admissions page lists DET 130 and IELTS 7 as minimums. International applicants must request aid during admission; Pomona says international students admitted without initially requesting aid cannot later request institutional aid.

Deadlines

Fall 2027 admissions: ED I November 8, 2026; ED II and Regular Decision January 8, 2027. International financial aid: ED I November 15, 2026; ED II and RD January 15, 2027. Apply for institutional aid via CSS Profile (code 4607) OR Pomona international aid application if CSS fee is unaffordable. Send 2025 income/tax documentation via IDOC with CSS or via Pomona portal with its own aid form.

What Pomona College needs for Fall 2027

Draft research from official pages (checked 14 Nov 2026). Not yet verified by a bdesh editor — confirm every date and prompt on the official page. 7 details still being checked.

Rounds and deadlines

Round	Application	Financial aid	Decision
Early Decision Ibinding	8 Nov 2026	15 Nov 2026	by December 15, 2026
Early Decision IIbinding	8 Jan 2027	15 Jan 2027	by February 15, 2027
Regular Decision	8 Jan 2027	15 Jan 2027	by April 1, 2027

Essays and short answers

Required150 words
What draws you to the subject(s) you selected as potential major(s)? (If undecided, share more about one of your academic passions or interests.)
all first-year
Required250 wordsanswer 1 of 3
We couldn't copy this prompt word for word yet. Read the exact text on the official page.
all first-year; choose one of three options
Required250 wordsanswer 1 of 3
We couldn't copy this prompt word for word yet. Read the exact text on the official page.
all first-year; choose one of three options
Required250 wordsanswer 1 of 3
We couldn't copy this prompt word for word yet. Read the exact text on the official page.
all first-year; choose one of three options

Testing

SAT/ACT optional
English tests: TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test (TOEFL 5 (as listed in the page's 'International Testing Profile'; scale unexplained, likely new 1–6 TOEFL scale) · IELTS 7 · DET 130)
Required for applicants from schools where English is not the primary language of instruction. No waiver mentioned on the page.

Recommendations · Interview

counselor + 2 teacher
Interview: not confirmed
Application fee: $80 · Apply through Common App, Coalition with Scoir, QuestBridge

Financial aid for international students

Need-aware for international applicants
✓ Meets full demonstrated need
Forms: CSS Profile, Pomona College International Financial Aid Application
Documents: Translated copy of prior-prior year tax documents or statement of earnings (upload via IDOC with CSS Profile, or via Admissions Portal with Pomona form)
CSS Profile code: 4607

Need-aware. International applicants page says Pomona meets 100% of demonstrated need for every admitted international student and does not use loans to meet need. Aid status cannot be changed after the application is submitted; admitted students who did not apply for aid cannot be considered later. No merit scholarships.

Official pages used

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