California: Pomona College

The No. 1 U.S. Top College in 2015, Pomona College is a private liberal arts college in Claremont, CA, offering 47 majors and 600 classes. Established in 1887, it is the founding member of The Claremont Colleges, a consortium of neighboring schools.

Students can choose from over 2,000 classes offered through the consortium; around 80% of students have taken a class at another Claremont school. Fifty-seven percent of freshmen receive grants from the school averaging almost $40,000. Nearly all students live on campus. There are more than 220 student organizations, and Pomona teams up with Pitzer College for its intercollegiate sports programs. One popular tradition is Ski-Beach Day, when students spend a morning skiing in the San Gabriel Mountains and an afternoon lounging at a nearby beach.