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

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University San Bernardino in San Bernardino, CA with California State Polytechnic University Pomona in Pomona, 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 Bernardino based on total student enrollment (27,636 students vs. 18,492 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

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

Which college is more expensive, California State University-San Bernardino or California State Polytechnic University-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 San Bernardino than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona ($5,231 vs. $11,940).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University San Bernardino are 10.1% lower than at California State Polytechnic University Pomona ($15,002 vs. $16,682).
• California State University San Bernardino is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (about $313 more per year; $8,093.00 vs. $7,780.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at California State University-San Bernardino than at California State Polytechnic University Pomona (about $313 more per year; $20,693.00 vs. $20,380.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University San Bernardino than at California State Polytechnic University Pomona (89% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University San Bernardino students is 2.8% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Pomona students ($12,167 vs. $11,833).

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

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State Polytechnic University Pomona (1130) is 130 points higher than at California State University-San Bernardino (1000).
• Incoming California State Polytechnic University-Pomona students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 17 at California State University-San Bernardino).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University San Bernardino 910/1080; California State Polytechnic University Pomona 1010/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University San Bernardino 15/20; California State Polytechnic University Pomona 19/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State University-San Bernardino - Test-free; California State Polytechnic University-Pomona - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-San Bernardino Nov 30, 2026; California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman California State Polytechnic University-Pomona students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at California State University-San Bernardino (3.41).
• California State University-San Bernardino has a higher acceptance rate (93.7%) than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (75.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.3% at California State University-San Bernardino vs. 12.5% at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona.

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

How do outcomes compare for California State University-San Bernardino and California State Polytechnic University-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).

• California State Polytechnic University Pomona's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than California State University San Bernardino's (45%).
• Graduates from California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than California State University-San Bernardino graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,400 vs. $46,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University San Bernardino graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates ($16,500 vs. $19,000).
• Among borrowers, California State University-San Bernardino graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates ($170 vs. $196).
• More California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State University-San Bernardino students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 51%)

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.