Western Michigan University (WMU) vs Cal Poly Pomona
Western Michigan University (WMU) and California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) are two distinct universities with unique offerings. WMU, located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, boasts a higher acceptance rate (79%) compared to Cal Poly Pomona's 48%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with WMU excelling in fields like business, engineering, and health sciences, while Cal Poly Pomona shines in agriculture, engineering, and hospitality management. WMU's student body is predominantly White (68%), while Cal Poly Pomona's is more diverse, with a significant Hispanic population (43%). In terms of graduation rates, Cal Poly Pomona has a slight edge over WMU, with a 6-year graduation rate of 67% compared to WMU's 63%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two institutions. Explore the table to discover which university
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![]() California State Polytechnic University-Pomona |
![]() Western Michigan University |
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Overview |
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Location | Pomona, California | Kalamazoo, Michigan |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
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% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 60.6% | 82.8% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
|
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$50
|
SAT range | N/A | 1000 - 1220 |
ACT range | N/A | 21 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 37.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 7.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 41,226 | 18,853 |
Total number of admissions given out | 24,993 | 15,612 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 3,463 | 2,112 |
Yield rate | 13.9% | 13.5% |
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 | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$25,835
Out of state:
$37,715
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In state:
$27,947
Out of state:
$31,281
|
Average net price | $12,942 | $19,749 |
Tuition |
In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
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In state:
$13,334
Out of state:
$16,668
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,980
Meal plan:
$5,590
|
$10,884 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
76.0%
Average amount $9,025 |
95.0%
Average amount $6,352 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
17.0%
Average amount $4,805 |
49.0%
Average amount $5,188 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $12,608 |
10.0%
Average amount $15,132 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
26,974
Men 53.5% Women 46.5% |
14,587
Men 50.1% Women 49.9% |
Graduate students |
2,482
Men 47.3% Women 52.7% |
3,679
Men 37.4% Women 62.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 0.8% | 23.8% |
International students | 4.6% | 7.3% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 4,128 | 5,130 |
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 | Michigan Illinois Indiana Wisconsin Ohio |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
|
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Students to faculty ratio | 28:1 | 16:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 70.2% | 56.3% |
Dropout rate | 23.1% | 14.6% |
Transferred out | 1.7% | 25.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Engineering Technology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's Degrees)
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