Cal Poly Pomona: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, California · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-blind
- 48,258
- Applicants
- 35,688
- Admitted74%
- 4,004
- Enrolled
- 11%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective74% admittedRanked #2 in Regional Universities West; Business Programs #149 (tie), Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #12, Computer Science #155 (tie), Economics #222 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Cal Poly Pomona a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Cal Poly Pomona against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Cal Poly Pomona is a public university in Pomona, California that admits about 74% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $11,531 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Civil Engineering, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 68% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.7 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Cal Poly Pomona is a public institution located in Pomona, California with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Cal Poly Pomona admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 74%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $11,531 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Cal Poly Pomona?
55% of enrolled students at Cal Poly Pomona had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.7, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare Cal Poly Pomona with the other schools on your list
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What does Cal Poly Pomona weight in admissions?
Cal Poly Pomona reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
Considered
5- Extracurricular activities
- First generation status
- Geographical residence
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
11- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- Alumni/ae relation
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Cal Poly Pomona typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: Cal Poly Pomona does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • CSU campus: SAT/ACT not used for admission; may be used for English/math placement after admission.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Cal Poly Pomona's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Cal Poly Pomona actually cost?
Published tuition is $7,780 for in-state students and $20,380 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $16,682 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $11,531 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 46% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $6,838 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $20,968 |
| Room and board | $16,909 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $11,531 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 71% |
| Average need-based grant | $13,064 |
| Average merit award, no financial need44 first-year students received one | $1,012 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 34% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $20,083 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $70 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Cal Poly Pomona
| Regular deadline | 12/2 |
Will my child graduate from Cal Poly Pomona?
These predict outcomes at Cal Poly Pomona better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Cal Poly Pomona
The most popular undergraduate programs at Cal Poly Pomona, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Civil Engineering. Across all programs, Cal Poly Pomona confers roughly 3,425 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $72,509 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1,561 | $72,509 |
| Psychology, General | 361 | $51,985 |
| Civil Engineering | 277 | $99,934 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 276 | $101,659 |
| Sociology | 253 | $57,178 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 252 | $49,890 |
| Biology, General | 243 | $61,718 |
| Computer Science | 202 | $107,324 |
Is Cal Poly Pomona safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Cal Poly Pomona disclosed 67 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.7 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 1 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Cal Poly Pomona?
About 25% of undergraduates at Cal Poly Pomona live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 2% of men join a fraternity and 1% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- California State University-Los Angeles91% acceptance
- California State University-Fresno95% acceptance
- California State University-Sacramento94% acceptance
- Claremont McKenna College10% acceptance
- Harvey Mudd College13% acceptance
- Pomona College7% acceptance
- Pitzer College25% acceptance
- Scripps College38% acceptance
Next steps for Cal Poly Pomona
Common questions parents ask about Cal Poly Pomona
What GPA do I need for Cal Poly Pomona?
55% of enrolled students at Cal Poly Pomona had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.7, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Cal Poly Pomona typically admit?
Cal Poly Pomona is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does Cal Poly Pomona actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Cal Poly Pomona after grants and scholarships is $11,531 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $7,780 and $20,380 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Cal Poly Pomona realistic for my child?
Cal Poly Pomona admits 74% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $11,531 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Cal Poly Pomona?
Cal Poly Pomona accepts about 74% of applicants out of roughly 48,258 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Cal Poly Pomona test-optional?
Cal Poly Pomona is test-blind for Fall 2027 applicants: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at Cal Poly Pomona?
About 68% of students at Cal Poly Pomona graduate within six years. 89% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Cal Poly Pomona look for in applicants?
Cal Poly Pomona rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Cal Poly Pomona a public or private school, and where is it located?
Cal Poly Pomona is a public institution located in Pomona, California.
What are the most popular majors at Cal Poly Pomona?
The largest undergraduate majors at Cal Poly Pomona by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Civil Engineering. The school awards about 3,425 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Cal Poly Pomona safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Cal Poly Pomona reported 67 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.7 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Cal Poly Pomona?
At Cal Poly Pomona, 25% of undergraduates live on campus, 2% of men are in fraternities, 1% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers