California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, California · Public · 75.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 89/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Cal Poly Pomona scores 89 (Strong Value), one of the stronger scores among California State University campuses, driven by an earnings premium subscore of 97 and a 5-year payback period. Median 6-year earnings of $42,900 are solid for a campus with in-state tuition of $7,780 and net price of $11,531. The 68.4% completion rate is adequate but not exceptional - roughly 1 in 3 students does not finish within 6 years. Business Administration is the largest program at 1,523 graduates, and engineering disciplines dominate the top earnings tiers. With 46.3% of students on Pell grants, CPP serves a significant working-class and first-generation population from the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire.
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,780/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,380/yr |
| Average net price | $11,531/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $46,124 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $71,902 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $16,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $170 |
| Estimated payback period | 5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 25,042 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $7,780/year ($20,380/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $11,531/year, or roughly $46,124 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $7,851/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,716/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $16,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $170 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $71,902 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.37, comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,851 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,433 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,734 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,894 |
| $110,001+ | $20,716 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The lowest income bracket (0-$30,000) pays $7,851 per year at CPP - an affordable entry point for low-income students from the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley. With a 5-year payback period at median earnings, Pell-eligible completers who enter engineering or business programs face a genuinely strong financial return. The 68.4% completion rate is the main risk: students who leave without a degree carry cost without the credential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the $48,001-75,000 range pay $10,734, and the $75,001-110,000 band pays $13,894. At these price points, the 5-year payback on median earnings is still highly favorable. Middle-income families choosing CPP over more expensive private alternatives are making a sound financial decision, particularly for engineering and business students.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $20,716 per year, or about $83,000 over four years. At a 5-year payback, the full-price case at CPP is still good by California private university standards. Engineering graduates at this cost level are among the best ROI outcomes in the state. Liberal arts and design programs are less compelling at full pay but still cheaper than most private alternatives.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $70,954 | B+ |
| Psychology | $49,747 | C+ |
| Civil Engineering | $97,790 | A |
| Computer Science | $103,494 | B+ |
| Sociology | $52,694 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $99,148 | A |
| Biology | $61,688 | C+ |
| Hospitality Administration | $57,114 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $56,278 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $53,024 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering is CPP's highest-volume technical program at 304 graduates - a remarkable output for an undergraduate program - with year-one earnings of $75,758 and year-four of $97,790. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.218 (ROI grade A) reflects median debt of $16,500 against earnings that top $75k immediately. Southern California's construction and infrastructure boom directly absorbs CPP civil engineers; the employment pipeline from campus to Caltrans, LADWP, and private firms is well-established.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering graduates 216 students with $75,040 year-one earnings and $99,148 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.233 (ROI grade A) confirms this is one of the best ROI programs on campus. The Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley host major aerospace and manufacturing employers - Northrop Grumman, Boeing, SpaceX contractors - who recruit heavily from CPP. Year-four earnings near $99k reflect mid-career mechanical engineering salaries in the Los Angeles metro.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration dominates the campus at 1,523 graduates, making it one of the largest undergraduate business programs in the Cal State system. Year-one earnings of $46,581 and year-four of $70,954 are solid for a regional public institution. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.339 (ROI grade B+) reflects median debt of $15,808, which is manageable. Business graduates from CPP enter the Los Angeles and Inland Empire markets in finance, operations, supply chain, and entrepreneurship.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 360 students with year-one earnings of $26,845 - the third largest program on campus with the weakest near-term earnings among high-volume majors. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.484 (ROI grade C+) reflects median debt of $13,000 against modest early earnings. Year-four earnings of $49,747 suggest a portion of psychology graduates move into social services, management, or graduate-school-dependent careers. At $11,531 net price, the low cost partially offsets the weak near-term return.
Design and Applied Arts
Design and Applied Arts graduates 116 students with year-one earnings of $30,065 and year-four of $55,744, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.704 (ROI grade D) is a warning flag. Median debt of $21,160 against $30k year-one earnings creates real financial stress for recent graduates. The program likely captures students headed into UX design, graphic design, and product design in the LA creative economy, but the early career period is financially difficult even at CPP's low net price.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 81.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California State Polytechnic University-Pomona’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 75.2% |
| Enrollment | 25,042 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 46.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,943 |
At 75.2% admission, CPP accepts the substantial majority of applicants, consistent with the broader Cal State system. No test score data is reported, reflecting Cal State's test-optional policies. The school is accessible to most applicants with a complete application; the practical challenge is completing the degree, given the 68.4% completion rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
CPP's peers include Cal Poly SLO, California State University-Bakersfield, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Oklahoma-Norman, and University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. CPP's ROI score of 89 is strong relative to the Cal State system and competitive with mid-tier research universities. Cal Poly SLO (the sister polytechnic) likely scores higher on earnings given its reputation premium in tech and engineering, but CPP's lower net price partially closes that gap for in-state students.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (this school) | 89 | $11,531 | $71,902 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 88 | $16,778 | $69,020 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | 85 | $10,974 | $68,740 |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 83 | $15,300 | $63,126 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See California State Polytechnic University-Pomona side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Cal Poly Pomona admits 75.2% of applicants, making it accessible rather than selective. No SAT/ACT data is reported for the current cohort. The polytechnic model means the curriculum leans heavily toward applied technical and professional programs rather than traditional liberal arts. Students who fit best here are goal-oriented learners who want direct pathways to engineering, architecture, hospitality, business, or agricultural careers. Students seeking a research university experience or strong humanities programs will find a thinner selection.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona pays off. You'd pay about $11,531 a year after aid ($46,124 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $71,902 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 68.4% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. A median $16,000 owed against $71,902 in annual earnings is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona: Common Questions
Is California State Polytechnic University-Pomona worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students California State Polytechnic University-Pomona pays off. It scores 89/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $11,531 a year after aid ($46,124 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $71,902 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5 years to earn back.
How much does California State Polytechnic University-Pomona cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $11,531 a year, or roughly $46,124 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $71,902 ten years after enrolling, roughly $30,102 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 5 years for California State Polytechnic University-Pomona. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $16,000, against $71,902 in typical earnings a decade out. That is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should stay under a year of salary.
What is the graduation rate at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.4%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.