Cal Poly Pomona vs United States Air Force Academy

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) and the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) are two distinct institutions of higher learning that offer unique educational experiences. Cal Poly Pomona, a public polytechnic university, is known for its strong programs in agriculture, engineering, and business, while USAFA, a military academy, emphasizes leadership, aeronautics, and military science. With acceptance rates of 53% and 13%, respectively, these institutions cater to different applicant pools. Cal Poly Pomona's diverse student body comprises 24,000 undergraduates, while USAFA's tightly-knit community consists of approximately 4,000 cadets. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, with Cal Poly Pomona at 68% and USAFA at 88%. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these institutions, including popular majors, tuition costs, and financial aid opportunities, to determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona logo

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

United States Air Force Academy logo

United States Air Force Academy

Overview

Location Pomona, California USAF Academy, Colorado
Campus setting Suburb: Large Town: Fringe
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 88.0% 93.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 60.6% 12.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
SAT range N/A 1208 - 1490
ACT range N/A 29 - 34
Students submitting SAT score 35.0%
Students submitting ACT score 21.0%
Total number of applicants 41,226 11,687
Total number of admissions given out 24,993 1,453
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,463 1,091
Yield rate 13.9% 75.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required 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
Average net price $12,942
Tuition
In state: $5,742

Out of state: $17,622
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,980

Meal plan: $5,590
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

76.0%
Average amount $9,025
Students receiving federal student loan 17.0%
Average amount $4,805
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $12,608

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 26,974
Men 53.5% Women 46.5%
4,181
Men 71.4% Women 28.6%
Graduate students 2,482
Men 47.3% Women 52.7%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
N/A
Out-of-state students 0.8% N/A
International students 4.6% N/A
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Town: Fringe
Dormitory capacity 4,128 4,200
First year students are required to live on campus? No Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Oregon Guam Hawaii N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Social Sciences
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Architecture
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio 28:1 8:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 70.2% 86.1%
Dropout rate 23.1% 13.9%
Transferred out 1.7% N/A
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
N/A