California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. USD

Comparable Facts

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

California State Polytechnic University Pomona is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (27,636 students vs. 9,714 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State Polytechnic University Pomona is located in Pomona, CA (Midsize City setting); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State Polytechnic University Pomona 25:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona or USD? 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 USD ($11,940 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State Polytechnic University Pomona are 16.2% lower than at University of San Diego ($16,682 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 664.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (about $51,706 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $7,780.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 191.9% higher at USD than at California State Polytechnic University Pomona (about $39,106 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $20,380.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at California State Polytechnic University Pomona (84% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 246.2% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Pomona students ($40,965 vs. $11,833).

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. USD Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State Polytechnic University Pomona 1010/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State Polytechnic University Pomona 19/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona - Test-free; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Nov 30, 2026; USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (3.69).
• California State Polytechnic University-Pomona has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.5% at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs. 12.4% at USD.

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

How do outcomes compare for California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and USD? 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 San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than California State Polytechnic University Pomona's (50%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $14,800 more per year than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $55,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates have a $3,904 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($19,000 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($196 vs. $236).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Pomona students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.