Cal State LA vs Cal Poly Pomona

California State University-Los Angeles (CSULA) and California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) are two distinct universities within the California State University system, each offering unique educational experiences. CSULA, located in the heart of Los Angeles, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with a focus on liberal arts and social sciences. Cal Poly Pomona, situated in the vibrant city of Pomona, is renowned for its strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and agriculture, along with a variety of other academic disciplines. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence and student success, they differ in terms of acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona	California State University-Los Angeles
Overview
Location	Pomona, California	Los Angeles, California
Campus setting	Suburb: Large	City: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Public	Public
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	88.0%	73.0%
Common app member	No	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	60.6%	90.5%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $70 Graduate: $70	Undergraduate: $70 Graduate: $70
SAT range	N/A	N/A
ACT range	N/A	N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants	41,226	29,223
Total number of admissions given out	24,993	26,459
Admitted students who chose to enroll	3,463	4,095
Yield rate	13.9%	15.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Not required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Not required	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $25,835 Out of state: $37,715	In state: $32,619 Out of state: $44,499
Average net price	$12,942	$2,695
Tuition	In state: $5,742 Out of state: $17,622	In state: $5,742 Out of state: $17,622
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $10,980 Meal plan: $5,590	Room/dormitory: $9,712 Meal plan: $4,500
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	76.0% Average amount $9,025	91.0% Average amount $10,909
Students receiving federal student loan	17.0% Average amount $4,805	11.0% Average amount $4,458
Students taking out private loans	1.0% Average amount $12,608	0.0% Average amount $8,862

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	26,974 Men 53.5% Women 46.5%	23,536 Men 40.6% Women 59.4%
Graduate students	2,482 Men 47.3% Women 52.7%	3,977 Men 36.4% Women 63.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	0.8%	1.1%
International students	4.6%	5.9%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Large	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	4,128	2,565
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	California Washington Oregon Guam Hawaii	California Illinois Minnesota Hawaii Maryland

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Engineering Social Sciences Computer and Information Science Architecture	Health Professions Education Engineering Psychology Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio	28:1	25:1
Institutional accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	70.2%	51.9%
Dropout rate	23.1%	39.4%
Transferred out	1.7%	3.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $85,357 Year 3: $96,966 Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $75,286 Year 2: $77,329 Year 3: $89,517 Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $72,891 Year 2: $72,650 Year 3: $86,380 Engineering Technology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $63,005 Year 3: $82,880 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $68,110 Year 2: $69,930 Year 3: $81,209 Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $68,168 Year 2: $67,918 Year 3: $79,792 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $65,611 Year 2: $63,501 Year 3: $76,900 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $59,217 Year 2: $64,394 Year 3: $76,474 Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $64,215 Year 2: $68,305 Year 3: $76,397 Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $70,663 Year 2: $64,087 Year 3: $76,106	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $112,257 Year 2: $103,746 Year 3: $117,496 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $75,475 Year 2: $106,421 Year 3: $103,691 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $91,250 Year 2: $82,440 Year 3: $99,815 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $90,684 Year 2: $87,548 Year 3: $93,771 Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $70,852 Year 2: $58,673 Year 3: $83,310 Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $70,456 Year 3: $82,904 Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $81,004 Year 2: $74,367 Year 3: $80,425 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $64,165 Year 2: $59,124 Year 3: $77,214 Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $61,370 Year 2: $61,516 Year 3: $72,371 Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $66,775 Year 2: $57,318 Year 3: $71,643

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between Cal State LA and Cal Poly Pomona?

Cal State LA and Cal Poly Pomona, while both part of the CSU system, offer distinct educational experiences. Cal State LA is a comprehensive university with a strong emphasis on liberal arts, education, and nursing, and is known for its diverse student body and location in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal Poly Pomona, on the other hand, is a polytechnic university, meaning it focuses on hands-on, learn-by-doing education in STEM fields, architecture, and business. It's located in Pomona, offering a more suburban campus environment.
Which university is better known for its engineering programs?

Cal Poly Pomona is widely recognized for its strong engineering programs. Its 'learn-by-doing' approach, coupled with state-of-the-art facilities, provides students with practical experience that is highly valued by employers. While Cal State LA also offers engineering programs, Cal Poly Pomona has a stronger reputation and more specialized focus in this area.
How do the campuses differ in terms of location and environment?

Cal State LA is located in the city of Los Angeles, offering students access to a wide range of cultural, entertainment, and professional opportunities. The campus is more urban and integrated into the city. Cal Poly Pomona is situated in Pomona, a suburban city in Los Angeles County. The campus is larger and more self-contained, providing a more traditional college campus environment.
Which university has a stronger focus on the arts and humanities?

Cal State LA has a stronger emphasis on the arts and humanities. It offers a wider range of programs in these areas, including a renowned film and television program. While Cal Poly Pomona also offers arts and humanities courses, its primary focus is on STEM and professional fields.
How do the admission requirements compare between Cal State LA and Cal Poly Pomona?

Generally, Cal Poly Pomona is considered more competitive to get into than Cal State LA. This is due to its strong reputation in STEM fields and its polytechnic focus. Both universities require a strong academic record, but Cal Poly Pomona may place a greater emphasis on math and science coursework.
What types of student activities and organizations are available at each university?

Both Cal State LA and Cal Poly Pomona offer a wide variety of student activities and organizations, including clubs, sports teams, fraternities, and sororities. Cal State LA's activities often reflect its urban location and diverse student body, with a focus on cultural events and social justice initiatives. Cal Poly Pomona's activities tend to be more focused on STEM-related interests, such as engineering clubs and robotics teams, alongside traditional campus activities.
Which university is known for its architecture program?

Cal Poly Pomona is highly regarded for its architecture program. It is one of the top architecture schools in California and the nation, known for its hands-on approach and emphasis on design and innovation. Cal State LA does not have a comparable architecture program.
How does the diversity of the student body compare between the two universities?

Both Cal State LA and Cal Poly Pomona have diverse student bodies, reflecting the demographics of Southern California. Cal State LA is known for its particularly high percentage of first-generation college students and students from underrepresented backgrounds. Cal Poly Pomona also has a diverse student population, with a strong representation of students from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
What are the career services and internship opportunities like at each university?

Both universities offer career services to help students find internships and jobs. Cal Poly Pomona's career services are particularly strong in connecting students with companies in STEM fields, due to its strong industry connections. Cal State LA's career services are well-equipped to assist students in a wider range of fields, including education, healthcare, and the arts, leveraging its location in the heart of Los Angeles.
Which university is more affordable?

Tuition and fees are generally similar across the CSU system, so the cost of attendance at Cal State LA and Cal Poly Pomona is comparable. However, the overall cost of living may differ slightly depending on housing choices and lifestyle. Living in Los Angeles (near Cal State LA) can sometimes be more expensive than living in Pomona, but this depends on individual circumstances.

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