California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. Sacramento State

Comparable Facts

Compare California State Polytechnic University Pomona in Pomona, CA with California State University Sacramento in Sacramento, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California State University Sacramento is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona based on total student enrollment (31,943 students vs. 27,636 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State Polytechnic University Pomona is located in Pomona, CA (Midsize City setting); California State University Sacramento is in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting).
• California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Sacramento is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State Polytechnic University Pomona 25:1; California State University Sacramento 24:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State Polytechnic University Pomona are 13% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($16,682 vs. $19,174).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.2% higher at Sacramento State than at California State Polytechnic University Pomona (about $238 more per year; $20,618 vs. $20,380).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Sacramento than at California State Polytechnic University Pomona (82% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Sacramento students is 7.9% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Pomona students ($12,767 vs. $11,833).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona than at Sacramento State (23 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and Sacramento State.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Nov 30, 2026; Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona average a 3.69 high school GPA, 0.27 higher than at Sacramento State (3.42).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.5% at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. 15.3% at Sacramento State.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Sacramento graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates ($15,750 vs. $19,000).
• Among borrowers, Sacramento State graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates ($162 vs. $196).
• More California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sacramento State students, three years after graduation (72% vs. 64%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.