UCI vs. Pomona

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Irvine is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (37,297 students vs. 1,700 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Pomona College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California Irvine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pomona College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Irvine 19:1; Pomona College 7:1.

UCI vs. Pomona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI 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 University of California Irvine than Pomona ($15,889 vs. $19,938).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Irvine are 11.2% lower than at Pomona College ($18,991 vs. $21,394).
• Pomona College is 316.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCI (about $49,698 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $15,722.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31% higher at Pomona than at University of California Irvine (about $15,498 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $49,922.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pomona College than at University of California Irvine (59% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 182.8% larger than aid received by University of California Irvine students ($65,362 vs. $23,110).

UCI vs. Pomona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCI 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 UCI.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Pomona College (1530) is 200 points higher than at UCI (1330).
• Incoming Pomona students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at UCI).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 1230/1430; Pomona College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33; Pomona College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; Pomona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026; Pomona Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pomona students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at UCI (3.75).
• UCI has a higher acceptance rate (28.6%) than Pomona (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 50.2% at Pomona.

UCI vs. Pomona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI 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 University of California Irvine's (85%).
• Graduates from Pomona College earn a median of about $8,700 more per year than UCI graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,500 vs. $61,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than UCI graduates ($11,000 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCI graduates ($113 vs. $175).

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.