CSU Fresno vs Cal Poly Pomona

California State University-Fresno (Fresno State) and California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) are two distinct universities within the California State University system, each offering unique educational experiences. Fresno State boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students. Cal Poly Pomona, on the other hand, has a lower acceptance rate, indicating a more selective admissions process. In terms of popular majors, Fresno State excels in fields like Business, Health Professions, and Education, while Cal Poly Pomona is renowned for its programs in Engineering, Agriculture, and Environmental Design. Both universities have diverse student bodies, with Cal Poly Pomona having a slightly higher percentage of international students. When it comes to graduation rates, Fresno State has a slightly higher rate, suggesting that students may find it easier to complete their degrees within the expected timeframe. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table below, highlighting key differences between these two esteemed institutions.
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona logo

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

California State University-Fresno logo

California State University-Fresno

Overview

Location Pomona, California Fresno, 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% 77.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 60.6% 97.3%
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 15,231
Total number of admissions given out 24,993 14,816
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,463 3,451
Yield rate 13.9% 23.3%
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: $28,085

Out of state: $39,965
Average net price $12,942 $6,336
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: $5,433

Meal plan: $4,560
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

76.0%
Average amount $9,025
82.0%
Average amount $10,314
Students receiving federal student loan 17.0%
Average amount $4,805
12.0%
Average amount $4,620
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $12,608
0.0%
Average amount $8,114

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 26,974
Men 53.5% Women 46.5%
22,187
Men 39.9% Women 60.1%
Graduate students 2,482
Men 47.3% Women 52.7%
2,860
Men 33.8% Women 66.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 0.8% 1.1%
International students 4.6% 4.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 4,128 1,139
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 Arizona Washington Colorado Hawaii

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Social Sciences
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Architecture
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Engineering
  • Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio 28:1 22:1
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% 56.6%
Dropout rate 23.1% 36.1%
Transferred out 1.7% 1.6%
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 (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $134,798
  • Year 2: $152,201
  • Year 3: $138,860
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $108,496
  • Year 2: $102,409
  • Year 3: $120,286
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,427
  • Year 2: $101,964
  • Year 3: $107,577
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $83,988
  • Year 2: $90,049
  • Year 3: $93,007
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $83,843
  • Year 2: $86,867
  • Year 3: $92,510
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,004
  • Year 2: $85,159
  • Year 3: $89,931
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,885
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $84,934
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,380
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $83,440
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $81,726
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,361
  • Year 2: $70,009
  • Year 3: $79,715

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