Cal Poly vs. California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Comparable Facts

Compare California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, CA with California State Polytechnic University Pomona in Pomona, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State Polytechnic University Pomona is larger than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (27,636 students vs. 23,069 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Small Suburban setting); California State Polytechnic University Pomona is in Pomona, CA (Midsize City setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; California State Polytechnic University Pomona 25:1.

Cal Poly vs. California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or California State Polytechnic University-Pomona? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State Polytechnic University Pomona than Cal Poly ($11,940 vs. $17,453).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State Polytechnic University Pomona are 11.2% lower than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($16,682 vs. $18,792).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is 74.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (about $5,816 more per year; $13,596.00 vs. $7,780.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 70.1% higher at Cal Poly than at California State Polytechnic University Pomona (about $14,285 more per year; $34,665.00 vs. $20,380.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State Polytechnic University Pomona than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (74% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 21.2% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Pomona students ($14,338 vs. $11,833).

Cal Poly vs. California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or California State Polytechnic University-Pomona? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and Cal Poly.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1320) is 190 points higher than at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (1130).
• Incoming Cal Poly students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 23 at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; California State Polytechnic University Pomona 1010/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; California State Polytechnic University Pomona 19/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; California State Polytechnic University-Pomona - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (3.69).
• California State Polytechnic University-Pomona has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 12.5% at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona.

Cal Poly vs. California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and California State Polytechnic University-Pomona? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than California State Polytechnic University Pomona's (50%).
• Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $14,000 more per year than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $55,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates have a $334 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates ($18,666 vs. $19,000).
• Among borrowers, Cal Poly graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates ($193 vs. $196).
• More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Pomona students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.