How to Apply to Mathematics at Pomona College: Naming Potential Majors on the Application with No Published Separate Mathematics Admission Line, Four Tracks Within the Major, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Pomona College is a liberal arts college in Claremont, California, and a member of The Claremont Colleges. Undergraduate mathematics is taught by the Mathematics and Statistics Department. Here is what you need to know to apply, based on the college’s mathematics major page, the department’s pages, and the Admissions and Financial Aid pages, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Computer science is not covered here and is mentioned only where it meets mathematics. The detailed list of courses for the major is in the college catalog, which is hosted by a third party and was not read for this guide, so check it yourself.

1. Degree and tracks

• Degree: the mathematics major page describes the usual B.A., and a combined B.A.-M.A. program with Claremont Graduate University in either mathematics or mathematics education.
• Four tracks: the department says majors choose one of four tracks: general mathematics (particularly appropriate for those planning to teach high school mathematics), pure mathematics (for students who want to understand mathematics on its own terms and plan graduate study in pure mathematics), applied mathematics (an individualized curriculum motivated by fields such as economics or biology, appropriate preparation for employment in industry or graduate study in applied mathematics) and statistics (theory and practice of data analysis).
• Common elements: the major page says that beyond calculus and linear algebra, students take courses in algebra, analysis, topology/geometry, modeling and statistics. The senior exercise is directed research under a faculty member, completed as a thesis; the department also runs a Seminar in Mathematical Exposition that teaches literature searches, reading research papers, writing and giving talks.
• Other programs: the department mentions Learning Communities, the Pomona Scholars of Math Program and the 1-2-1 math summer bridge program; their conditions were not read.
• Statistics and computing: statistics is a track within the mathematics major; computer science is not covered here.

2. Admission: potential majors on the application; entry conditions not published

• When you apply: first-year applicants write a 150-word academic interest statement: what draws you to the subject(s) you selected as potential major(s), or, if undecided, one academic passion. The Admissions pages read do not say that applicants are admitted by major or that mathematics has a separate admission line, nor whether choosing mathematics affects the decision; this is not published there, so ask admissions@pomona.edu.
• Declaring, conditions and limits: the pages read do not say when students declare the mathematics major, what is required, or whether places are limited. The department says that prospective majors who have not yet declared can email math@pomona.edu to receive event emails. Ask the department or check the catalog.
• Internal transfer into the major: not stated on the pages read.

3. Prerequisites and credit

• High school mathematics: the Admissions pages read do not list required high school mathematics courses; they recommend multiple years of science. For IB students, the international FAQ recommends Math Analysis HL for those pursuing a STEM major, “a recommendation, not a requirement”; Math Applications HL may suit some students better, and Math Applications SL is considered the least rigorous of the four options.
• First math course: the department says most students enter with Math 30 (Calculus I), Math 31, 31S or 31H (three versions of Calculus II), Math 32 or 32S (Calculus III) or Math 60 (Linear Algebra). Math 30 covers material similar to AP Calculus AB and Math 31 corresponds to AP Calculus BC, though the pace and depth may be greater. Math 31S emphasizes applications to the sciences, and Math 31H rebuilds calculus from scratch with connections to areas such as number theory. For students planning a substantial number of math courses, the department says they may start with Math 60 followed by Math 67 (Vector Calculus).
• Honors-level entry: the department’s Learning Community in Mathematics (LiCMATH) gives well-prepared students in Calculus I and II an honors-level experience; a group of incoming students is invited to apply each year and members attend weekly workshops. Participation is restricted, but any interested student planning to take Math 30 or 31 may apply.
• AP/IB/A-Level credit: the international FAQ says Pomona grants Advanced Standing credit for AP scores of 4 or 5, Higher-Level IB scores of 6 or 7, and comparable GCE A-Level results; year-long courses earn one credit and semester-long courses half; duplicate exams are not credited twice; a maximum of two Advanced Standing credits count toward the 32 needed to graduate. Which exams map to which mathematics courses is not stated on the pages read.
• Math competitions: the Admissions pages read do not say how competitions are viewed.

4. Deadlines and materials

• Deadlines: Early Decision I 8 November, notification by 15 December, reply 1 January; Early Decision II 8 January, notification by 15 February, reply 1 March; Regular Decision 8 January, notification by 1 April, reply 1 May. ED I and ED II applicants are evaluated in the same way, and an admitted ED applicant agrees to withdraw other applications. The table shows no year, so check that it applies to fall 2027 entry.
• How to apply: Apply Coalition on Scoir, the Common App or QuestBridge, with no preference. Supporting materials need not arrive by the deadline.
• Materials: an official high school transcript, the school report and counselor recommendation, a mid-year report (by 15 February), and two letters from teachers of core academic subjects (English, foreign languages, math, science or social sciences); the pages read do not require a mathematics teacher. Pomona-specific writing: the 150-word academic interest statement and a 250-word short response, with a choice of three prompts.
• Application fee: a one-time, non-refundable $80; applicants for whom it is a hardship and who plan to apply for aid can complete the Pomona Access Pass form to have it waived.
• Testing: SAT or ACT is optional and self-reported; official scores are required only from those admitted and enrolling. Applicants who submit the ACT must submit the Core ACT plus Science. Pomona says about half of applicants in recent years chose to submit. If you choose not to submit, scores are not considered even if they arrive from a testing agency or appear on your transcript.
• Interviews: third-party interviews through InitialView, Vericant or Duolingo are optional and do not replace the English tests.

5. US domestic applicants

• Tuition: Pomona is private, and its cost page lists one rate with no in-state/out-of-state split. For 2026-2027: tuition $71,660, fees $420 and on-campus housing and food $23,590, for billable costs of $95,670; $92,572 for off campus and $87,284 for living with parents or relatives. Travel and personal costs are estimated at $1,500 to $2,600 and medical insurance at $3,312 (can be waived with comparable coverage; international students must enroll). From fall 2026, books and supplies are provided and included in the comprehensive fee. The page says tuition, fees, housing and meals have increased by 3% to 5% a year on average; the rates for fall 2027 entry are not published on the pages read.
• Aid: Pomona says it is committed to meeting the full demonstrated need of all eligible students; an offer is made up of grant aid and a modest student employment allotment, and loans are not used to meet need. The international applicant FAQ shows admission as need-blind for US citizens and permanent residents. Applicants submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile (school code 4607). Pomona does not provide merit or athletic scholarships.
• Aid deadlines: Early Decision 1 on 15 November; Early Decision 2 and Regular Decision on 15 January; transfer on 1 March.
• Residency preference or guaranteed admission: not stated on the pages read.

6. International applicants

• English: if English is not the primary language of instruction in your school, submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo results. The “international testing profile” on the international applicants page lists minimums of TOEFL 5, IELTS 7 and Duolingo 130; the International Applicant FAQs on the same site give TOEFL iBT and iBT Special Home Edition 100, TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution 627, IELTS 7 and Duolingo 130, with no minimum sub-scores. The two pages differ on the TOEFL and do not name the scale, so confirm with Admissions.
• Requirements: the same forms and deadlines as other first-year applicants; the Common App international supplement is not needed; non-English transcripts need official English translations; if secondary school in your country lasts three years (grades 10-12), submit transcripts for both 9th grade and grades 10-12, with no need to recalculate your GPA. Pomona says each applicant is evaluated within their own local context.
• Admission and aid: admission is need-aware for foreign nationals, but Pomona meets the full need of every admitted international student. The international applicants page says 41% of international students receive need-based aid, averaging nearly $74,000 a year, while the FAQ says about half of admitted international students receive aid. International aid applicants complete the CSS Profile; if its fee is a burden, they may complete Pomona’s own International Financial Aid Application. Foreign nationals at US high schools submit an International Student Certification of Finances before enrollment.
• Share of the class: the page says typically 12 to 15% of those admitted to the first-year class are international students.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the Admissions pages read do not mention the Gaokao or give China-specific guidance; this is not published there, so contact the Office of Admissions.
• Transcripts and other records: no China-specific requirements are published on the pages read; the general rules in section 6 apply: official English translations of non-English transcripts, and 9th-grade transcripts for three-year secondary schools.
• English scores: the accepted TOEFL versions include TOEFL iBT, the Special Home Edition and “TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution” (minimum 627); see section 6 for the rest.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see section 5.
• Department funding: the department offers the Kenneth Cooke Summer Research Fellowship each year, open to any Pomona student, for ten weeks of summer research in applied mathematics or statistics; the application deadline is 31 March of the year it is granted. The department also encourages applications for faculty-sponsored research travel grants, and the major page says many students do summer research. The international FAQ says international students are eligible for the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) with the same stipends as domestic students.
• Outcomes: the department describes the applied track as appropriate for employment in industry or graduate study in applied mathematics and the statistics track as appropriate for both employment and graduate study in statistics; the pages read print no employment data.

9. Transfer students

• Eligibility: applicants who will have completed at least one year of full-time college work by enrollment apply as transfers; people with a bachelor’s degree are not accepted. Transfers enter as sophomores or juniors (8 to 16 credits) and must spend at least four full-time semesters at Pomona to receive the B.A. Fall entry only.
• Fall 2027 deadlines: application due 15 February 2027, financial aid 1 March, supporting documents until 5 March 2027, notification by 9 April, reply 1 June.
• Materials: Apply Coalition on Scoir or the Common App; three essays (personal essay up to 650 words, academic interest statement up to 400 words, short response up to 250 words); official transcripts from every college and from secondary school; the College or Transfer Report; the Mid-Term Report; two academic evaluations from college instructors; and the $80 fee (waivable with the Access Pass).
• Prerequisites and grades: Pomona says there are no required courses for transfer applicants, only a recommendation to complete general education requirements before applying. The pages read state no minimum GPA and no calculus or linear algebra sequence for the mathematics major; ask Admissions.
• Credit: admitted students receive a course credit evaluation with the offer; at most 16 course credits transfer, usually if earned at a regionally accredited institution, taken in person, graded C or better, and with a comparable course offered at The Claremont Colleges.
• International transfers: the deadline and requirements are generally the same, with official translations of non-English transcripts and the English test requirement in section 6.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Apply by 8 November (ED I) or 8 January (ED II and Regular); write the 150-word academic interest statement
• For aid, submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile by 15 November or 15 January

International applicants (including China):

• If your school’s language of instruction is not English, send TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo results and confirm the TOEFL minimum with Admissions; attach official translations of non-English transcripts
• Submit the CSS Profile (4607) for international aid

After entry:

• Use the placement advice to start in Math 30, 31, 32 or 60; consider applying to LiCMATH; confirm with the department when to declare the major

Transfer students:

• Deadline 15 February 2027; at least one year of full-time college work; up to 16 credits transfer

Sources: Pomona College, Mathematics major; Mathematics and Statistics Department; Department: courses and requirements; Department: resources; Department: what should my first math class be; Department: LiCMATH; Paths to Apply; International applicants; International applicant FAQs; Transfer applicants; Financial Aid; Cost of attendance. The first-year deadline table shows no year, so check that it applies to fall 2027 entry (the transfer page states fall 2027). The detailed list of courses for the mathematics major is in the college catalog, which was not read for this guide; see Pomona’s website for the latest.