UCSC vs. Pomona

Deciding between University of California Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz
Pomona College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • Pomona Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • Pomona Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • Pomona 1,700
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • Pomona Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • Pomona #20
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • Pomona -
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • Pomona Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • Pomona

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • Pomona $65,420
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • Pomona $21,394
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • Pomona $19,938
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • Pomona $65,362
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • Pomona 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • Pomona 12,249
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • Pomona 868
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • Pomona 7.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • Pomona 50.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • Pomona 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • Pomona 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • Pomona 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC A-
  • Pomona A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • Pomona Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • Pomona Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • Pomona 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • Pomona 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • Pomona Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • Pomona Jan 8, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • Pomona 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Pomona
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • Pomona 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • Pomona $70,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • Pomona -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • Pomona $11,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • Pomona $113

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 48%
  • Pomona 45%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 52%
  • Pomona 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • Pomona Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • Pomona No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • Pomona 40%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • Pomona 14%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • Pomona 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • Pomona 15%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • Pomona 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • Pomona 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • Pomona 8%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • Pomona 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • Pomona 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • Pomona 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • Pomona 50%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than Pomona based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 1,700 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UCSC vs. Pomona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC 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 Santa Cruz than Pomona ($18,059 vs. $19,938).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Cruz are 6.8% lower than at Pomona College ($19,948 vs. $21,394).
  • Pomona College is 308.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $49,415 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $16,005.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.3% higher at Pomona than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $15,215 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $50,205.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pomona College than at University of California Santa Cruz (59% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 187% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($65,362 vs. $22,774).

UCSC vs. Pomona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC 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 UCSC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Pomona College (1530) is 270 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
  • Incoming Pomona students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at UCSC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; Pomona College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; Pomona College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; Pomona - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; Pomona Jan 8, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pomona students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at UCSC (3.63).
  • UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than Pomona (7.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 50.2% at Pomona.

UCSC vs. Pomona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC 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 Santa Cruz's (73%).
  • Graduates from Pomona College earn a median of about $20,100 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,500 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $8,959 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($11,000 vs. $19,959).
  • Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($113 vs. $206).

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.