California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. Saint Mary's College of California

Comparable Facts

Compare California State Polytechnic University Pomona in Pomona, CA with Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State Polytechnic University Pomona is larger than Saint Mary's College of California based on total student enrollment (27,636 students vs. 2,734 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State Polytechnic University Pomona is located in Pomona, CA (Midsize City setting); Saint Mary's College of California is in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State Polytechnic University Pomona 25:1; Saint Mary's College of California 10:1.

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. Saint Mary's College of California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California ($11,940 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State Polytechnic University Pomona are 5.2% lower than at Saint Mary's College of California ($16,682 vs. $17,600).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 643% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (about $50,023 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $7,780.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 183.6% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at California State Polytechnic University Pomona (about $37,423 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $20,380.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at California State Polytechnic University Pomona (100% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 258.4% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Pomona students ($42,407 vs. $11,833).

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. Saint Mary's College of California Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California and California State Polytechnic University-Pomona.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College of California (1160) is 30 points higher than at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (1130).
• Incoming Saint Mary's College of California students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State Polytechnic University Pomona 1010/1250; Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State Polytechnic University Pomona 19/27; Saint Mary's College of California 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona - Test-free; Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Nov 30, 2026; Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman California State Polytechnic University-Pomona students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Saint Mary's College of California (3.6).
• Saint Mary's College of California has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) 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. 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California.

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. Saint Mary's College of California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and Saint Mary's College of California? 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).

• Saint Mary's College of California's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than California State Polytechnic University Pomona's (50%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College of California earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,800 vs. $55,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($19,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($196 vs. $258).
• More California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Mary's College of California students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 71%)

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.