UCSB vs. Pomona

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

University of California Santa Barbara
Pomona College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Pomona (7.1% admitted vs 33%). Typical SAT 1530 vs 1350.
  • Cheaper after aid: UCSB. Average net price is $17,658 vs $19,938 at Pomona.
  • Graduation: UCSB 80% vs Pomona 95%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UCSB $59,000 vs Pomona $70,500 (median).
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Key differences

University of California Santa Barbara Pomona College
Acceptance rate
Pomona more selective
UCSB33%
Pomona7.1%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Pomona higher
UCSB1230-1460
Pomona1490-1560
Average net price
UCSB $2,280 less
UCSB$17,658
Pomona$19,938
In-state tuition
UCSB $49,006 less
UCSB$16,414
Pomona$65,420
Out-of-state tuition
UCSB $14,806 less
UCSB$50,614
Pomona$65,420
Graduation rate
Pomona +15 pts
UCSB80%
Pomona95%
Median earnings (10 years)
Pomona +$11,500
UCSB$59,000
Pomona$70,500

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UCSB 110,259
  • Pomona 12,249
  • Admitted
  • UCSB 36,347
  • Pomona 868
  • Acceptance rate
  • UCSB 33%
  • Pomona 7.1%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UCSB 13.8%
  • Pomona 50.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSB 1350
  • Pomona 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSB 31
  • Pomona 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • UCSB 3.82
  • Pomona 3.89
  • Typical high school grades
  • UCSB A-
  • Pomona A
  • Admissions standards
  • UCSB Exceptional
  • Pomona Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • UCSB High
  • Pomona Extreme
  • SAT range
  • UCSB 1230-1460
  • Pomona 1490-1560
  • ACT range
  • UCSB 28-34
  • Pomona 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • UCSB Test-free
  • Pomona Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UCSB Nov 30, 2026
  • Pomona Jan 8, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UCSB $16,414
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UCSB $50,614
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Room & board
  • UCSB $20,279
  • Pomona $21,394
  • Average net price
  • UCSB $17,658
  • Pomona $19,938
  • Average grant aid
  • UCSB $24,695
  • Pomona $65,362
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UCSB 53%
  • Pomona 59%
  • Graduation rate
  • UCSB 80%
  • Pomona 95%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UCSB $59,000
  • Pomona $70,500
  • Making student loan payments
  • UCSB 73%
  • Pomona -
  • Median student loan debt
  • UCSB $16,451
  • Pomona $11,000
  • Median loan payment
  • UCSB $170
  • Pomona $113
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UCSB 17:1
  • Pomona 7:1
  • Popular majors
  • UCSB
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Pomona
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Location
  • UCSB Santa Barbara, CA
  • Pomona Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSB Midsize Suburban
  • Pomona Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSB 26,133
  • Pomona 1,700
  • Type
  • UCSB Public 4 Year
  • Pomona Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UCSB #112
  • Pomona #20

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Barbara is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (26,133 students vs. 1,700 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Pomona College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 17:1; Pomona College 7:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Barbara are 5.2% lower than at Pomona College ($20,279 vs. $21,394).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.3% higher at Pomona than at University of California Santa Barbara (about $14,806 more per year; $65,420 vs. $50,614).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pomona College than at University of California Santa Barbara (59% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 164.7% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students ($65,362 vs. $24,695).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Pomona than at UCSB (34 vs. 31, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UCSB, test optional at Pomona.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026; Pomona Jan 8, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Pomona average a 3.89 high school GPA, 0.07 higher than at UCSB (3.82).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 50.2% at Pomona.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $5,451 lower median loan debt than UCSB graduates ($11,000 vs. $16,451).
  • Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSB graduates ($113 vs. $170).

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

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