California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. UCSC

Comparable Facts

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

California State Polytechnic University Pomona is larger than UCSC based on total student enrollment (27,636 students vs. 19,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State Polytechnic University Pomona is located in Pomona, CA (Midsize City setting); University of California Santa Cruz is in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting).
• California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State Polytechnic University Pomona 25:1; University of California Santa Cruz 22:1.

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. UCSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona or UCSC? 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 UCSC ($11,940 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State Polytechnic University Pomona are 16.4% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($16,682 vs. $19,948).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 105.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (about $8,225 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $7,780.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 146.3% higher at UCSC than at California State Polytechnic University Pomona (about $29,825 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $20,380.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State Polytechnic University Pomona than at University of California Santa Cruz (74% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 92.5% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Pomona students ($22,774 vs. $11,833).

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. UCSC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 130 points higher than at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (1130).
• Incoming UCSC 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 State Polytechnic University Pomona 1010/1250; University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State Polytechnic University Pomona 19/27; University of California Santa Cruz 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona - Test-free; UCSC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Nov 30, 2026; UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman California State Polytechnic University-Pomona students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at UCSC (3.63).
• California State Polytechnic University-Pomona has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.5% at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. 9.3% at UCSC.

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. UCSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and UCSC? 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).

• University of California Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than California State Polytechnic University Pomona's (50%).
• Graduates from California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,400 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates have a $959 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($19,000 vs. $19,959).
• Among borrowers, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($196 vs. $206).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Pomona students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.