UC Riverside vs. Pomona

University of California Riverside and Pomona College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of California Riverside
Pomona College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Pomona (7.1% admitted vs 76.4%). Typical SAT 1530 vs 1180.
  • Cheaper after aid: UC Riverside. Average net price is $14,562 vs $19,938 at Pomona.
  • Graduation: UC Riverside 67% vs Pomona 95%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UC Riverside $52,200 vs Pomona $70,500 (median).
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Acceptance rate
Pomona more selective
UC Riverside76.4%
Pomona7.1%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Pomona higher
UC Riverside1080-1280
Pomona1490-1560
Average net price
UC Riverside $5,376 less
UC Riverside$14,562
Pomona$19,938
In-state tuition
UC Riverside $49,814 less
UC Riverside$15,606
Pomona$65,420
Out-of-state tuition
UC Riverside $15,614 less
UC Riverside$49,806
Pomona$65,420
Graduation rate
Pomona +28 pts
UC Riverside67%
Pomona95%
Median earnings (10 years)
Pomona +$18,300
UC Riverside$52,200
Pomona$70,500

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UC Riverside 58,048
  • Pomona 12,249
  • Admitted
  • UC Riverside 44,343
  • Pomona 868
  • Acceptance rate
  • UC Riverside 76.4%
  • Pomona 7.1%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UC Riverside 12.2%
  • Pomona 50.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Riverside 1180
  • Pomona 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Riverside 26
  • Pomona 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • UC Riverside 3.84
  • Pomona 3.89
  • Typical high school grades
  • UC Riverside A-
  • Pomona A
  • Admissions standards
  • UC Riverside Difficult
  • Pomona Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • UC Riverside
  • Pomona Extreme
  • SAT range
  • UC Riverside 1080-1280
  • Pomona 1490-1560
  • ACT range
  • UC Riverside 22-31
  • Pomona 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • UC Riverside Test-free
  • Pomona Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026
  • Pomona Jan 8, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UC Riverside $15,606
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UC Riverside $49,806
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Room & board
  • UC Riverside $20,691
  • Pomona $21,394
  • Average net price
  • UC Riverside $14,562
  • Pomona $19,938
  • Average grant aid
  • UC Riverside $24,355
  • Pomona $65,362
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UC Riverside 76%
  • Pomona 59%
  • Graduation rate
  • UC Riverside 67%
  • Pomona 95%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UC Riverside $52,200
  • Pomona $70,500
  • Making student loan payments
  • UC Riverside 65%
  • Pomona -
  • Median student loan debt
  • UC Riverside $19,109
  • Pomona $11,000
  • Median loan payment
  • UC Riverside $197
  • Pomona $113
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UC Riverside 22:1
  • Pomona 7:1
  • Popular majors
  • UC Riverside
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • Pomona
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Location
  • UC Riverside Riverside, CA
  • Pomona Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • UC Riverside Large City
  • Pomona Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Riverside 26,384
  • Pomona 1,700
  • Type
  • UC Riverside Public 4 Year
  • Pomona Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UC Riverside #306
  • Pomona #20

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Riverside in Riverside, CA with Pomona College in Claremont, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Riverside is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 1,700 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Pomona College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pomona College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Riverside 22:1; Pomona College 7:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Riverside are 3.3% lower than at Pomona College ($20,691 vs. $21,394).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.3% higher at Pomona than at University of California Riverside (about $15,614 more per year; $65,420 vs. $49,806).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at Pomona College (76% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 168.4% larger than aid received by University of California Riverside students ($65,362 vs. $24,355).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 8 points higher at Pomona than at UC Riverside (34 vs. 26, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UC Riverside, test optional at Pomona.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; Pomona Jan 8, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Pomona average a 3.89 high school GPA, 0.05 higher than at UC Riverside (3.84).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 50.2% at Pomona.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $8,109 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($11,000 vs. $19,109).
  • Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $84 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($113 vs. $197).

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

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