Cal Poly Pomona vs UC Riverside: A Data-Driven Comparison
Admission Difficulty: UC Riverside is more accessible with a 68.69% acceptance rate compared to Cal Poly Pomona's 55.38%, making Pomona moderately more selective.
Cost and Value: Cal Poly Pomona offers better financial value with in-state tuition of $7,439 versus UC Riverside's $14,170. Pomona's average net price ($11,580) is also lower than Riverside's ($13,707). However, Pomona graduates earn more at the 10-year mark ($71,902 vs $67,699) while carrying less debt ($16,000 vs $17,500).
Academic Strengths: Both schools maintain identical 23:1 student-faculty ratios. Cal Poly Pomona emphasizes hands-on learning in engineering, agriculture, and applied sciences through its polytechnic model. UC Riverside, part of the UC system, offers stronger research opportunities and a broader liberal arts foundation across multiple disciplines.
Campus Experience: Both universities enroll similar numbers (Pomona: 24,271. Riverside: 22,644) with nearly identical retention rates around 88%. UC Riverside competes in NCAA Division I athletics, while Cal Poly Pomona participates in Division II.
Outcomes: UC Riverside demonstrates a higher six-year graduation rate (76.60% vs 66.70%), though Cal Poly Pomona graduates achieve better long-term earning potential.
Best Fit: Cal Poly Pomona suits students seeking practical, career-focused education with lower costs and strong employment prospects, while UC Riverside better serves students wanting research opportunities, academic prestige within the UC system, and a traditional university experience despite higher costs.
Admission Difficulty: UC Riverside is more accessible with a 68.69% acceptance rate compared to Cal Poly Pomona's 55.38%, making Pomona moderately more selective.
Cost and Value: Cal Poly Pomona offers better financial value with in-state tuition of $7,439 versus UC Riverside's $14,170. Pomona's average net price ($11,580) is also lower than Riverside's ($13,707). However, Pomona graduates earn more at the 10-year mark ($71,902 vs $67,699) while carrying less debt ($16,000 vs $17,500).
Academic Strengths: Both schools maintain identical 23:1 student-faculty ratios. Cal Poly Pomona emphasizes hands-on learning in engineering, agriculture, and applied sciences through its polytechnic model. UC Riverside, part of the UC system, offers stronger research opportunities and a broader liberal arts foundation across multiple disciplines.
Campus Experience: Both universities enroll similar numbers (Pomona: 24,271. Riverside: 22,644) with nearly identical retention rates around 88%. UC Riverside competes in NCAA Division I athletics, while Cal Poly Pomona participates in Division II.
Outcomes: UC Riverside demonstrates a higher six-year graduation rate (76.60% vs 66.70%), though Cal Poly Pomona graduates achieve better long-term earning potential.
Best Fit: Cal Poly Pomona suits students seeking practical, career-focused education with lower costs and strong employment prospects, while UC Riverside better serves students wanting research opportunities, academic prestige within the UC system, and a traditional university experience despite higher costs.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | University of California-Riverside | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 55.4% | 68.7% |
| Enrollment | 24,271 | 22,644 |
| In-State Tuition | $7,439 | $14,170 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $19,319 | $44,947 |
| Net Price | $11,580 | $13,707 |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 66.7% | 76.6% |
| Retention Rate | 88.1% | 88.2% |
| Median Earnings (10yr) | $71,902 | $67,699 |
| Median Debt | $16,000 | $17,500 |
Top Programs by Earnings
Top 5 bachelor's programs at each school, ranked by median graduate earnings.
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | University of California-Riverside | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | Earnings | Program | Earnings |
| Construction Engineering Technologies. | $77,329 | Computer Engineering. | $69,617 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $69,930 | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $66,076 |
| Manufacturing Engineering. | $69,338 | Mechanical Engineering. | $59,912 |
| Chemical Engineering. | $68,305 | Chemical Engineering. | $49,464 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | $67,918 | Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | $49,214 |