UC Riverside vs. Pomona

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Riverside is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 1,700 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Pomona College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California Riverside 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 Riverside 22:1; Pomona College 7:1.

UC Riverside vs. Pomona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside 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 Riverside than Pomona ($14,562 vs. $19,938).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Riverside are 3.3% lower than at Pomona College ($20,691 vs. $21,394).
• Pomona College is 319.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Riverside (about $49,814 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $15,606.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.3% higher at Pomona than at University of California Riverside (about $15,614 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $49,806.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at Pomona College (76% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 168.4% larger than aid received by University of California Riverside students ($65,362 vs. $24,355).

UC Riverside vs. Pomona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Riverside 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 UC Riverside.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Pomona College (1530) is 350 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
• Incoming Pomona students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 26 at UC Riverside).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; Pomona College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31; Pomona College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; Pomona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; Pomona Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pomona students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at UC Riverside (3.84).
• UC Riverside has a higher acceptance rate (76.4%) than Pomona (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 50.2% at Pomona.

UC Riverside vs. Pomona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside 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 Riverside's (67%).
• Graduates from Pomona College earn a median of about $18,300 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,500 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $8,109 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($11,000 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $84 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($113 vs. $197).

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.