UCSC vs. Pomona

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

University of California Santa Cruz
Pomona College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Pomona (7.1% admitted vs 65.8%). Typical SAT 1530 vs 1260.
  • Cheaper after aid: UCSC. Average net price is $18,059 vs $19,938 at Pomona.
  • Graduation: UCSC 73% vs Pomona 95%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UCSC $50,400 vs Pomona $70,500 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

University of California Santa Cruz Pomona College
Acceptance rate
Pomona more selective
UCSC65.8%
Pomona7.1%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Pomona higher
UCSC1160-1360
Pomona1490-1560
Average net price
UCSC $1,879 less
UCSC$18,059
Pomona$19,938
In-state tuition
UCSC $49,415 less
UCSC$16,005
Pomona$65,420
Out-of-state tuition
UCSC $15,215 less
UCSC$50,205
Pomona$65,420
Graduation rate
Pomona +22 pts
UCSC73%
Pomona95%
Median earnings (10 years)
Pomona +$20,100
UCSC$50,400
Pomona$70,500

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at UCSC and Pomona with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at UCSC Check my chances at Pomona
  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • Pomona 12,249
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • Pomona 868
  • Acceptance rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • Pomona 7.1%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • Pomona 50.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • Pomona 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • Pomona 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • Pomona 3.89
  • Typical high school grades
  • UCSC A-
  • Pomona A
  • Admissions standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • Pomona Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • UCSC Low
  • Pomona Extreme
  • SAT range
  • UCSC 1160-1360
  • Pomona 1490-1560
  • ACT range
  • UCSC 25-33
  • Pomona 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • Pomona Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • Pomona Jan 8, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Room & board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • Pomona $21,394
  • Average net price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • Pomona $19,938
  • Average grant aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • Pomona $65,362
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • Pomona 59%
  • Graduation rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • Pomona 95%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • Pomona $70,500
  • Making student loan payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • Pomona -
  • Median student loan debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • Pomona $11,000
  • Median loan payment
  • UCSC $206
  • Pomona $113
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • Pomona 7:1
  • Popular majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Pomona
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • Pomona Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • Pomona Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • Pomona 1,700
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • Pomona Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • Pomona #20

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 1,700 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); Pomona College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz 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 Cruz 22:1; Pomona College 7:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Cruz are 6.8% lower than at Pomona College ($19,948 vs. $21,394).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.3% higher at Pomona than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $15,215 more per year; $65,420 vs. $50,205).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pomona College than at University of California Santa Cruz (59% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 187% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($65,362 vs. $22,774).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Pomona than at UCSC (34 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UCSC, test optional at Pomona.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; Pomona Jan 8, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Pomona average a 3.89 high school GPA, 0.26 higher than at UCSC (3.63).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 50.2% at Pomona.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $8,959 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($11,000 vs. $19,959).
  • Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($113 vs. $206).

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

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

University of California Santa Cruz
Pomona College
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges