Cal Poly vs. Pomona

Should I go to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo or Pomona College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal Poly or Pomona is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Claremont McKenna Caltech UCSB HMC San Diego State UCSC Stanford USC UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo vs. Pomona College comparison
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Pomona College College 3 College 4
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Pomona College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Cal Poly Pomona
Location San Luis Obispo, CA Claremont, CA
Setting Small Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 22,000 1,716
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #155 #21
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calpoly.edu pomona.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal Poly Pomona
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $58,818
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $58,818
Room & Board $16,449 $19,358
Avg Net Price $19,184 $19,962
Avg Grant Aid $10,065 $57,848
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 47%

Admission

Cal Poly Pomona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,774 10,666
Admitted 17,885 749
Acceptance Rate 30.4% 7%
Enrolled % 28.6% 55.1%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.89
Typical High School Grades A/A+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition High Extreme
ACT Range 26/32 33/35
SAT Range 1220/1410 1480/1560
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2023 Jan 8, 2024

Academics

Cal Poly Pomona
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (9%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Cal Poly Pomona
Graduation Rate 75% 95%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,400 $70,500
Making Student Loan Payments 85% -
Median Student Loan Debt $18,666 $11,000
Median Loan Payment $193 $113

Diversity

Cal Poly Pomona
% Men 51% 45%
% Women 49% 55%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 40%
% Black 1% 7%
% Hispanic 16% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 8%
% International 2% 10%
% Unknown Race 5% 6%

Students

Cal Poly Pomona
% In-State 83% 24%
% Out-of-State 16% 55%

Campus

Cal Poly Pomona
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than Pomona based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 1,716 students)

Cal Poly vs. Pomona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Pomona?

  • Pomona College is 924.3% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($58,818.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 233.8% higher at Pomona than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($58,818.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than Pomona ($19,184 vs. $19,962)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 17.7% lower than costs at Pomona College ($16,449 vs. $19,358)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pomona College than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (47% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 474.7% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($57,848 vs. $10,065)

Cal Poly vs. Pomona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or Pomona? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Pomona or Cal Poly .

  • The average SAT score at Pomona College (1435) is 176 points higher than at Cal Poly (1259)
  • Incoming Pomona students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Cal Poly (29)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Pomona (3.89)
  • Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (30.4%) than Pomona (7%)

Cal Poly vs. Pomona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal Poly or Pomona? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Pomona and Cal Poly.

  • The graduation rate at Pomona is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (95% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Pomona College earn on average $1,100 more per year than Cal Poly graduates after ten years. ($70,500 vs. $69,400)
  • Pomona College students graduate with a $7,666 lower median federal student loan debt than Cal Poly graduates. ($11,000 vs. $18,666)
  • Pomona graduates are paying $80 less per month on federal student loans than Cal Poly graduates. ($113 vs. $193)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/