Cal State Long Beach vs. Pomona

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Long Beach is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 1,700 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Long Beach is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); Pomona College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pomona College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; Pomona College 7:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Pomona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach 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 State University Long Beach than Pomona ($10,607 vs. $19,938).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 27% lower than at Pomona College ($15,612 vs. $21,394).
• Pomona College is 790.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $58,070 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 227.9% higher at Pomona than at California State University Long Beach (about $45,470 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Long Beach than at Pomona College (76% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 454.2% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($65,362 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. Pomona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Long Beach 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 State Long Beach.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Pomona College (1530) is 400 points higher than at Cal State Long Beach (1130).
• Incoming Pomona students have a 11 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 23 at Cal State Long Beach).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 1020/1240; Pomona College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26; Pomona College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; Pomona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; Pomona Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pomona students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Cal State Long Beach (3.7).
• Cal State Long Beach has a higher acceptance rate (46.3%) than Pomona (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 50.2% at Pomona.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Pomona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach 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 State University Long Beach's (54%).
• Graduates from Pomona College earn a median of about $19,400 more per year than Cal State Long Beach graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,500 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Cal State Long Beach graduates ($11,000 vs. $15,000).
• Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal State Long Beach graduates ($113 vs. $155).

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.