At $11,580/yr net price, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates earn $71,902/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $37,902/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $11,580 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $46,320 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $71,902/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$37,902/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 1.2 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 66.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $16,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,599/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,192/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,196/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,145/yr |
| $110,001+ | $20,829/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $85,357 | |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Master | $84,653 | |
| Construction Engineering Technologies. | Bachelor | $77,329 | $16,500 |
| Civil Engineering. | Master | $72,650 | |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $69,930 | $17,985 |
| Manufacturing Engineering. | Bachelor | $69,338 | $19,000 |
| Chemical Engineering. | Bachelor | $68,305 | $21,322 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor | $67,918 | $16,940 |
| Agriculture, General. | Master | $67,660 | |
| Industrial Engineering. | Bachelor | $67,287 | $25,000 |
The Risk Factor
66.7% of students at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 33% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Cal Poly Pomona gives you a strong financial return for a public university, and the reason is debt. You borrow a median of $16,000, which is low enough that a mid-career salary near $72,000 clears it fast. That gap between what you owe and what you earn is where the value lives here.
The engineering programs are the reason to come. Construction Engineering Technologies leads the earnings list and carries a debt load ($16,500) barely above the school median, so it pays off cleanly. Mechanical Engineering pairs a $67,918 salary with the lowest debt of the top five, making it one of the safer bets. Chemical Engineering is the outlier to watch: its salary sits at the bottom of the engineering pack while its debt runs highest at $21,322, so the math is tighter there than the "engineering degree" label suggests.
The listed payoffs are all engineering. If you enroll in a non-engineering major, none of the salary data above applies to you, and the school's polytechnic strength won't carry your outcome automatically.
The 88% retention rate and 67% graduation rate mean most people who start here stay and finish, which lowers the risk of paying for credits without a degree. The main financial risk is picking a program outside the technical fields the school is built around.
Net price scales hard with income. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $7,599 a year. over $110,000 and you pay roughly $20,829, nearly triple. Lower-income families get real discounts here. If you're in the top bracket and not pursuing engineering, run the four-year cost against your expected major before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is California State Polytechnic University-Pomona worth the cost?
Cal Poly Pomona offers strong value with a low net price of $11,580 and decent post-graduation earnings of $71,902. The engineering and business programs provide solid returns, though the 67% graduation rate means about one-third of students don't finish.
What are the best paying majors at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?
Business Administration leads with $85,357 average earnings, followed by Electrical Engineering at $84,653. These programs justify the investment, while other majors may offer weaker financial returns.
How much debt do California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates have?
The median debt is $16,000, which is manageable given the average earnings of $71,902 ten years after graduation. Most graduates can reasonably pay off their loans with these salary levels.
Does California State Polytechnic University-Pomona have good job prospects after graduation?
Job prospects vary significantly by major at Cal Poly Pomona. Engineering and business graduates earn well above the national average, but students in lower-paying programs may struggle to justify the time and cost investment.