Cal Poly vs. Pomona

Deciding between California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and Pomona College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Pomona College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA
  • Pomona Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • Cal Poly Small Suburban
  • Pomona Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal Poly 23,069
  • Pomona 1,700
  • Type
  • Cal Poly Public 4 Year
  • Pomona Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cal Poly #151
  • Pomona #20
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cal Poly -
  • Pomona -
  • Status
  • Cal Poly Non-profit
  • Pomona Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cal Poly
  • Pomona

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cal Poly $13,596
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cal Poly $34,665
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Room & Board
  • Cal Poly $18,792
  • Pomona $21,394
  • Average Net Price
  • Cal Poly $17,453
  • Pomona $19,938
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly $14,338
  • Pomona $65,362
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly 48%
  • Pomona 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cal Poly 68,371
  • Pomona 12,249
  • Admitted
  • Cal Poly 21,416
  • Pomona 868
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cal Poly 31.3%
  • Pomona 7.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Cal Poly 24.6%
  • Pomona 50.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal Poly 1320
  • Pomona 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal Poly 29
  • Pomona 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cal Poly 4.0
  • Pomona 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cal Poly A/A+
  • Pomona A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cal Poly Very High
  • Pomona Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cal Poly High
  • Pomona Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Cal Poly 26/32
  • Pomona 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Cal Poly 1220/1410
  • Pomona 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cal Poly Test-free
  • Pomona Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026
  • Pomona Jan 8, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cal Poly 19:1
  • Pomona 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cal Poly
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Agriculture (15%)
    • Architecture (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Pomona
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cal Poly 75%
  • Pomona 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cal Poly $69,400
  • Pomona $70,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cal Poly 85%
  • Pomona -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cal Poly $18,666
  • Pomona $11,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cal Poly $193
  • Pomona $113

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cal Poly 49%
  • Pomona 45%
  • % Women
  • Cal Poly 51%
  • Pomona 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cal Poly High
  • Pomona Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cal Poly No
  • Pomona No
  • % White
  • Cal Poly 57%
  • Pomona 40%
  • % Asian
  • Cal Poly 12%
  • Pomona 14%
  • % Black
  • Cal Poly 1%
  • Pomona 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cal Poly 16%
  • Pomona 15%
  • % Native American
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • Pomona 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • Pomona 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cal Poly 7%
  • Pomona 8%
  • % International
  • Cal Poly 2%
  • Pomona 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cal Poly 5%
  • Pomona 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cal Poly 83%
  • Pomona 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cal Poly 17%
  • Pomona 50%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • Pomona Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cal Poly No
  • Pomona No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • Pomona Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cal Poly No
  • Pomona No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • Pomona No

Comparable Facts

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

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (23,069 students vs. 1,700 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); Pomona College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pomona College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; Pomona College 7:1.

Cal Poly vs. Pomona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or 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 Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than Pomona ($17,453 vs. $19,938).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 12.2% lower than at Pomona College ($18,792 vs. $21,394).
  • Pomona College is 381.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $51,824 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $13,596.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 88.7% higher at Pomona than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $30,755 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $34,665.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pomona College than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (59% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 355.9% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($65,362 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. Pomona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or 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 Pomona and Cal Poly.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Pomona College (1530) is 210 points higher than at Cal Poly (1320).
  • Incoming Pomona students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at Cal Poly).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; Pomona College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; Pomona College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; Pomona - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; Pomona Jan 8, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Pomona (3.89).
  • Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (31.3%) than Pomona (7.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 50.2% at Pomona.

Cal Poly vs. Pomona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and 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).

  • Pomona College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's (75%).
  • Graduates from Pomona College earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Cal Poly graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,500 vs. $69,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $7,666 lower median loan debt than Cal Poly graduates ($11,000 vs. $18,666).
  • Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal Poly graduates ($113 vs. $193).

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.