California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. California State University-San Marcos

Comparable Facts

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

California State Polytechnic University Pomona is larger than California State University-San Marcos based on total student enrollment (27,636 students vs. 16,237 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State Polytechnic University Pomona is located in Pomona, CA (Midsize City setting); California State University San Marcos is in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University San Marcos is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State Polytechnic University Pomona 25:1; California State University San Marcos 24:1.

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. California State University-San Marcos Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona or California State University-San Marcos? 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 University San Marcos than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona ($10,241 vs. $11,940).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University San Marcos are 15.2% lower than at California State Polytechnic University Pomona ($14,152 vs. $16,682).
• California State University San Marcos is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (about $302 more per year; $8,082.00 vs. $7,780.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at California State University-San Marcos than at California State Polytechnic University Pomona (about $302 more per year; $20,682.00 vs. $20,380.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State Polytechnic University Pomona than at California State University San Marcos (74% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State Polytechnic University Pomona students is 6.4% larger than aid received by California State University San Marcos students ($11,833 vs. $11,123).

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. California State University-San Marcos Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona or California State University-San Marcos? 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 University-San Marcos and California State Polytechnic University-Pomona.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State Polytechnic University Pomona (1130) is 90 points higher than at California State University-San Marcos (1040).
• Incoming California State Polytechnic University-Pomona students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 19 at California State University-San Marcos).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State Polytechnic University Pomona 1010/1250; California State University San Marcos 950/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State Polytechnic University Pomona 19/27; California State University San Marcos 17/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona - Test-free; California State University-San Marcos - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Nov 30, 2026; California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman California State Polytechnic University-Pomona students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at California State University-San Marcos (3.32).
• California State University-San Marcos has a higher acceptance rate (95.1%) than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (75.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.5% at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. 14% at California State University-San Marcos.

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. California State University-San Marcos Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and California State University-San Marcos? 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 State Polytechnic University Pomona's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than California State University San Marcos's (49%).
• Graduates from California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of about $6,300 more per year than California State University-San Marcos graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,400 vs. $49,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University San Marcos graduates have a $1,005 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates ($17,995 vs. $19,000).
• Among borrowers, California State University-San Marcos graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates ($186 vs. $196).
• More California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State University-San Marcos students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 66%)

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.