| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.35 |
| Liaison | Alexis Reyes |
| Submission Date | Oct. 29, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Pomona College
PA-8: Affordability and Access
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.39 / 4.00 |
Joel
Hart Sr Asst Dean Admissions Admissions |
Does the institution have policies and programs in place to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:
In Pomona College's admission policy statement, approved by the Board of Trustees, the College articulates its commitment to "to review admissions candidates who are US citizens and permanent residents without regard to financial circumstances and to provide financial assistance to those who enroll to the extent of their demonstrated need." Pomona College is one of only a handful of institutions in the US committed to both need-blind admissions and to meeting 100 percent of the demonstrated need of every admitted enrolling student with scholarships. There are no loans in the financial aid packages. These policies enable Pomona to choose its students solely on the basis of educational considerations such as talent, promise, and ability to contribute to the campus community while removing cost as a barrier to a first class educational opportunity.
A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
A brief description of any programs to prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
Pomona College Academy for Youth Success (PAYS) is an intensive 4-week academic summer program that serves high school students from groups traditionally under-represented in higher education – students who are first in their family to attend college, those from low income families, and those who are African American or Latino/a. The program enrolls up to 90 participants from Los Angeles and the Inland Valley. The program includes room and board M-F, and there is no cost to participants. Program participants attend small classes of approximately 15 students taught by Pomona College faculty.
A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
Pomona College offers no merit-based scholarships at all. All financial aid is based on family need. Since 2008, all financial aid awards made by Pomona College have been a combination of gift aid (scholarships and grants) and student employment, without loans or accrued debt of any kind. Pomona College also has over 400 named, endowed scholarships that contribute to the College's ability to maintain a need-blind admissions policy.
A brief description of any programs to guide parents of low-income students through the higher education experience:
Pomona College has a Parents Council which calls the parents of every accepted student to answer any questions they may have and talk about their own experience as well as their child's. Iin recent year, the program has had enough Spanish speaking parent volunteers to call families who prefer that conversation in Spanish. There is also an annual Family Weekend. Both of these programs are aimed at all Pomona parents. As part of the Pomona Academy for Youth Success, whose participants are often low income, College officials in admissions and financial aid meet with parents each year to discuss the processes of admissions and applying for financial aid. Pomona College financial aid staff also meet with participants of the local College Bound program to explain the process to those prospective college students and their families.
A brief description of any targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
Pomona College's commitment to a diverse student body is reflected in the Admissions Policy statement: "the College should select students for its entering classes who represent a rich cross-section of backgrounds, talents, experiences, and perspectives." The Admissions Office seeks to respond to this call; the College reaches out to community-based organizations across the country and by targeting outreach to economically disadvantaged students.The college is a participant in Chicago site of the Posse Foundation and is a partner of the QuestBridge program. The College has also enrolled many students from other programs such as Prep for Prep, Bright Prospect, College Match (Los Angeles), One Voice (Santa Monica), the Fulfillment Fund and other similar programs. Pomona also has the MSAP (formerly Minority Student Admissions Program) for under-represented students (low-income, minority or first generation) who have the potentail for being admitted. This program includes a fly-out program on two weekends in the fall to visit the campus.
A brief description of other admissions policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
For those with lower incomes, as reported on the application, the College will pay for their travel. For program participants who are admitted, the College will pay for low-income students to visit the campus for admitted student receptions in the spring. All admitted students receive information on admitted student receptions on campus that include the information that there are travel grants to attend these events available for low-income students.
A brief description of other financial aid policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
Since 2008, financial aid awards do not include loans or other debt-related offers.
A brief description of other policies and programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students not covered above:
Does the institution have policies and programs in place to support non-traditional students?:
A brief description of any scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:
The college enrolls very few students, if any, who meet this definition.
A brief description of any onsite child care facilities, partnerships with local facilities, and/or subsidies or financial support to help meet the child care needs of students:
None
A brief description of other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
None
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (accessibility and affordability indicators)?:
Indicators that the institution is accessible and affordable to low-income students::
| Percentage (0-100) | |
| The percentage of entering students that are low-income | 19 |
| The graduation/success rate for low-income students | 93 |
| The percentage of student financial need met, on average | 100 |
| The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt | 77 |
The percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students:
The website URL where information about the institution's affordability and access programs is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.