Claremont Graduate University will be formally aligned with Pomona College under a partnership scheduled for finalization by June 2027, both institutions confirmed in a joint statement released Monday.
While Pomona will oversee key institutional decisions at CGU, the graduate university will maintain its independence, retaining its own governing board and executive leadership.
The partnership was first disclosed publicly around this time last year, as CGU confronted persistent financial challenges, including declining enrollment and operating deficits.
Financial pressures at CGU include a projected $7.8 million shortfall for the current fiscal year, prompting the university to introduce voluntary buyout offers for faculty and staff to reduce expenses.
Pomona will contribute financial guidance and strategic support to CGU as it restructures its academic programs and implements cost-saving measures, according to details outlined in a Pomona FAQ document about the agreement.
Additionally, CGU will secure improved financing terms through its new affiliation with Pomona, though it will remain responsible for covering administrative services provided by Pomona.
Pomona will not assume CGU’s existing debts or allocate funds from its own operating budget to support the graduate institution, the FAQ clarifies.
In fiscal year 2025, Pomona reported a $16.9 million surplus from $258.5 million in revenue, concluding the year with $3.8 billion in total assets.
By comparison, CGU recorded a $4.6 million surplus on $68.8 million in revenue for the same period, with year-end assets totaling $290 million.
Enrollment at CGU has declined significantly, with 1,771 students recorded in fall 2024—a 18% drop from figures a decade earlier, based on federal education data.
Pomona will collaborate closely with CGU leadership on its academic restructuring efforts, offering external advisory resources to assist with the transformation.
As part of the overhaul, CGU intends to merge its five schools and two research centers into three consolidated academic divisions: management and technology; education, health, and psychology; and arts, humanities, and mathematics.
Final approval of CGU’s academic plan by both institutions is required before the partnership can be finalized.
The agreement still awaits regulatory approval, accreditation review, and endorsement from the Claremont Colleges consortium for CGU to remain part of the group.
As the original member of The Claremont Colleges, a network of seven interconnected higher education institutions spanning 600 acres, Pomona emphasized its commitment to the consortium’s stability in the FAQ. The affiliation ensures graduate education in Claremont remains tied to an institution dedicated to the collaborative principles of the consortium.
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