UCLA vs. Pomona

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles and Pomona College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Los Angeles
Pomona College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • Pomona Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • Pomona Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • Pomona 1,700
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • Pomona Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • Pomona #20
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • Pomona -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • Pomona Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • Pomona

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • Pomona $21,394
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • Pomona $19,938
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • Pomona $65,362
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • Pomona 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • Pomona 12,249
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • Pomona 868
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • Pomona 7.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • Pomona 50.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • Pomona 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • Pomona 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • Pomona 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • Pomona A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • Pomona Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • Pomona Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • Pomona 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • Pomona 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • Pomona Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • Pomona Jan 8, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • Pomona 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • Pomona
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • Pomona 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • Pomona $70,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • Pomona -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • Pomona $11,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • Pomona $113

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • Pomona 45%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • Pomona 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • Pomona Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • Pomona No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • Pomona 40%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • Pomona 14%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • Pomona 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • Pomona 15%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • Pomona 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • Pomona 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • Pomona 8%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • Pomona 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • Pomona 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • Pomona 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • Pomona 50%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCLA Yes
  • Pomona Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCLA No
  • Pomona No
  • Meal Plan
  • UCLA Yes
  • Pomona Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCLA No
  • Pomona No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCLA Yes
  • Pomona No

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Los Angeles is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 1,700 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Pomona College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 20:1; Pomona College 7:1.

UCLA vs. Pomona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA 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 Los Angeles than Pomona ($14,512 vs. $19,938).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Los Angeles are 14.1% lower than at Pomona College ($18,369 vs. $21,394).
  • Pomona College is 330.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $50,217 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $15,203.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32.4% higher at Pomona than at University of California Los Angeles (about $16,017 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $49,403.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pomona College than at University of California Los Angeles (59% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 155.1% larger than aid received by University of California Los Angeles students ($65,362 vs. $25,627).

UCLA vs. Pomona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA 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 UCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Pomona College (1530) is 110 points higher than at UCLA (1420).
  • Incoming Pomona students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at UCLA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; Pomona College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; Pomona College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; Pomona - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; Pomona Jan 8, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Pomona (3.89).
  • UCLA has a higher acceptance rate (9%) than Pomona (7.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 50.2% at Pomona.

UCLA vs. Pomona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA 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 Los Angeles's (90%).
  • Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $200 more per year than Pomona graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $70,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $5,300 lower median loan debt than UCLA graduates ($11,000 vs. $16,300).
  • Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCLA graduates ($113 vs. $168).

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.