California State University-Monterey Bay (CSUMB) vs Cal Poly Pomona

California State University-Monterey Bay (CSUMB) and California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) are two distinct universities within the California State University system, each offering unique educational experiences. CSUMB, located in the coastal city of Seaside, boasts a higher acceptance rate and a smaller student body, fostering a close-knit community. Cal Poly Pomona, situated in the vibrant city of Pomona, has a lower acceptance rate and a larger student body, providing a diverse and dynamic campus environment. While both universities offer a wide range of academic programs, CSUMB excels in marine science and environmental studies, while Cal Poly Pomona is renowned for its engineering and agriculture programs. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about the differences in acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and other key factors, helping you make an informed decision about which university best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona logo

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

California State University-Monterey Bay logo

California State University-Monterey Bay

Overview

Location Pomona, California Seaside, California
Campus setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Midsize
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% 81.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 60.6% 92.8%
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 10,026
Total number of admissions given out 24,993 9,305
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,463 779
Yield rate 13.9% 8.4%
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: $26,430

Out of state: $38,310
Average net price $12,942 $6,085
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: $9,642

Meal plan: $4,558
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

76.0%
Average amount $9,025
69.0%
Average amount $9,097
Students receiving federal student loan 17.0%
Average amount $4,805
25.0%
Average amount $3,379
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $12,608
2.0%
Average amount $11,953

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 26,974
Men 53.5% Women 46.5%
6,692
Men 38.1% Women 61.9%
Graduate students 2,482
Men 47.3% Women 52.7%
811
Men 29.8% Women 70.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 0.8% 2.4%
International students 4.6% 4.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 4,128 3,565
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 Colorado Hawaii Arizona Illinois

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Social Sciences
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Architecture
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Liberal Arts
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio 28:1 23:1
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% 60.2%
Dropout rate 23.1% 30.1%
Transferred out 1.7% 7.3%
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 (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $109,260
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $110,683
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,700
  • Year 2: $79,389
  • Year 3: $83,389
Educational/Instructional Media Design (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,186
  • Year 2: $71,957
  • Year 3: $75,206
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,031
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $68,691
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,187
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $65,124
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,008
  • Year 2: $60,049
  • Year 3: $63,971
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,999
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $52,338
Human Services, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,158
  • Year 2: $36,533
  • Year 3: $43,406
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,259
  • Year 2: $32,467
  • Year 3: $40,471
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,318
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $40,347

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