California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona at a Glance
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona is a public polytechnic research university in Pomona, California, United States. It is the largest of the three polytechnic universities in the California State University system by enrollment.
1938
88 years old
$204M
$203.8 million (2025)
27,196
25,255 undergrad · 1,941 grad
1,512
1,438 acres
Identity
Is California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Worth It?
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $11,531/year net price and $71,902 median earnings, graduates earn 6.2× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 68% graduation rate means roughly 32% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How California State Polytechnic University-Pomona compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #1 of 46 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 100 | $11,531 | $71,902 |
| #2 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #3 | Florida Atlantic University | 100 | $8,752 | $56,746 |
| #4 | San Jose State University | 96 | $13,760 | $78,988 |
| #5 | University of Illinois Chicago | 95 | $10,974 | $68,740 |
| #6 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 4 in CA.
Best Programs at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
The highest-earning program at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona is Construction Engineering Technologies at $73,700/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is English Language and Literature, General at $17,800/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Construction Engineering Technologies graduate from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona earns $73,700, while a English Language and Literature, General graduate earns $17,800. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Construction Engineering Technologies graduates carry $26,528 in median debt vs. $16,774 for English Language and Literature, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $11,531/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $73,700 | $73,700 | $26,528 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $66,300 | $66,300 | $20,333 |
| Manufacturing Engineering | $65,000 | $65,000 | $26,000 |
| Industrial Engineering | $64,800 | $64,800 | $23,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $64,300 | $64,300 | $21,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $61,300 | $61,300 | $21,850 |
| Engineering Technology, General | $60,700 | $60,700 | $21,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $60,600 | $60,600 | $21,750 |
| Computer Science | $59,700 | $59,700 | $21,087 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $58,300 | $58,300 | $21,500 |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $57,300 | $57,300 | $20,199 |
| Computer Engineering | $56,600 | $56,600 | $18,000 |
| Architecture | $52,500 | $52,500 | $26,500 |
| Food Science and Technology | $45,900 | $45,900 | $19,057 |
| Landscape Architecture | $43,400 | $43,400 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $41,700 | $41,700 | $16,692 |
| Biotechnology | $38,400 | $38,400 | $21,168 |
| Chemistry | $37,400 | $37,400 | $22,500 |
| City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning | $36,700 | $36,700 | $22,750 |
| Economics | $36,000 | $36,000 | $15,206 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $35,600 | $35,600 | $16,091 |
| Plant Sciences | $34,300 | $34,300 | $23,065 |
| Mathematics | $33,200 | $33,200 | $16,230 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $32,500 | $32,500 | $18,250 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $31,800 | $31,800 | $15,941 |
| Sociology | $31,700 | $31,700 | $13,188 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $30,100 | $30,100 | $18,000 |
| Animal Sciences | $30,000 | $30,000 | $20,749 |
| Biology, General | $29,100 | $29,100 | $18,088 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $28,900 | $28,900 | $25,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $28,000 | $28,000 | $22,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $27,000 | $27,000 | $15,000 |
| Music | $27,000 | $27,000 | $20,000 |
| Psychology, General | $24,600 | $24,600 | $15,944 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $23,800 | $23,800 | $17,399 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $23,700 | $23,700 | $17,250 |
| History | $23,700 | $23,700 | $18,149 |
| Anthropology | $22,900 | $22,900 | $15,000 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $22,800 | $22,800 | $20,833 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $17,800 | $17,800 | $16,774 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Pomona, CA
- Student Body
- 25,042 students
- Admission Rate
- 75%
- Graduation Rate
- 68%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $11,531
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $71,902
- Median Student Debt
- $16,000