Cal State Long Beach vs Cal Poly Pomona

California State University-Long Beach (CSULB) and California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) are two of the most sought-after public universities in California, each offering unique strengths and opportunities. While CSULB boasts a higher acceptance rate and a more diverse student body, Cal Poly Pomona stands out with its strong focus on STEM fields and its higher graduation rate. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the details of these two institutions, including their acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates, to help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey.

	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona	California State University-Long Beach
Overview
Location	Pomona, California	Long Beach, California
Campus setting	Suburb: Large	City: Large
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%	87.0%
Common app member	No	No
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	60.6%	46.9%
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	67,122
Total number of admissions given out	24,993	31,448
Admitted students who chose to enroll	3,463	4,865
Yield rate	13.9%	15.5%
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	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $25,835 Out of state: $37,715	In state: $24,912 Out of state: $36,792
Average net price	$12,942	$9,171
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: $8,590 Meal plan: $4,324
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	76.0% Average amount $9,025	75.0% Average amount $9,433
Students receiving federal student loan	17.0% Average amount $4,805	19.0% Average amount $4,565
Students taking out private loans	1.0% Average amount $12,608	0.0% Average amount $15,875

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	26,974 Men 53.5% Women 46.5%	33,897 Men 42.3% Women 57.7%
Graduate students	2,482 Men 47.3% Women 52.7%	6,293 Men 37.5% Women 62.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	0.8%	1.4%
International students	4.6%	6.1%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Large	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	4,128	3,206
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 Texas Washington Pennsylvania Illinois

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Engineering Social Sciences Computer and Information Science Architecture	Health Professions Engineering Visual & Performing Arts Kinesiology & Leisure Studies 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%	75.5%
Dropout rate	23.1%	19.7%
Transferred out	1.7%	1.9%
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 (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $118,210 Year 3: $114,438 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Graduate/Professional Certificates) Year 1: $114,350 Year 2: $111,435 Year 3: $111,518 Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $91,030 Year 2: $106,421 Year 3: $105,845 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $83,777 Year 2: $85,795 Year 3: $94,848 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $81,997 Year 3: $89,816 Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $83,666 Year 2: $81,175 Year 3: $89,338 Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $69,765 Year 2: $76,930 Year 3: $82,103 Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $76,747 Year 2: $79,755 Year 3: $81,071 Applied Mathematics (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $61,730 Year 2: $63,005 Year 3: $80,992 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $77,447 Year 2: $67,660 Year 3: $79,909

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) and Cal Poly Pomona (CPP)?

Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) is a large, comprehensive university known for its strong liberal arts programs, diverse student body, and beautiful beachside location. Cal Poly Pomona (CPP), on the other hand, is a polytechnic university emphasizing a 'learn-by-doing' approach with a focus on engineering, science, and applied technology. CPP's campus is also significantly larger and more spread out than CSULB's.
Which university is better known for its engineering programs?

Cal Poly Pomona is generally considered to have a stronger reputation for its engineering programs. Its 'learn-by-doing' philosophy is particularly well-suited for engineering disciplines, and it boasts extensive labs and facilities. While CSULB also has a solid engineering program, CPP's is often ranked higher and has a greater emphasis on hands-on application.
How do the campuses compare in terms of size and location?

Cal Poly Pomona has a much larger campus, spanning approximately 1,438 acres, offering a more spacious and spread-out environment. It's located in Pomona, in the eastern part of Los Angeles County. Cal State Long Beach, with its approximately 323-acre campus, is more compact and is located in Long Beach, offering close proximity to the beach and a more urban setting.
Which school is known for its arts programs?

Cal State Long Beach is widely recognized for its exceptional arts programs, particularly in areas like film, dance, and art. The university has invested heavily in its arts facilities and attracts talented students and faculty in these fields. While Cal Poly Pomona offers some arts programs, CSULB's are generally more prominent and well-regarded.
What is the 'learn-by-doing' philosophy, and which school emphasizes it?

The 'learn-by-doing' philosophy emphasizes hands-on experience and practical application of knowledge. Cal Poly Pomona strongly emphasizes this approach across all its programs, integrating lab work, projects, and real-world simulations into the curriculum. Students are encouraged to actively engage with their subjects and develop practical skills.
How does the student life and campus culture differ between CSULB and CPP?

CSULB has a more diverse and vibrant student life, benefiting from its location in a bustling city and its proximity to the beach. There's a strong emphasis on arts, culture, and social activities. CPP's student life is more focused on academic pursuits and engineering-related activities, with a strong sense of community within specific departments. While both offer a range of clubs and organizations, the overall atmosphere differs due to their respective focuses.
Which school is more difficult to get into?

Admission difficulty can vary from year to year and depends on the specific program. However, generally speaking, Cal Poly Pomona's engineering and science programs tend to be more competitive due to high demand. CSULB's impacted programs, such as nursing and some arts programs, can also be highly competitive. It's best to check the latest admission statistics for each program you're interested in.
How do the career services compare between the two universities?

Both CSULB and CPP offer comprehensive career services, including career counseling, resume workshops, and job fairs. CPP's career services are particularly strong in connecting students with internships and job opportunities in engineering and technology fields. CSULB's career services are well-rounded and cater to a broader range of industries, reflecting the university's diverse academic offerings.
What are some unique programs offered at each university?

CSULB is known for its strong programs in marine biology, film, and dance. It also has a unique Shark Lab for marine research. Cal Poly Pomona offers specialized programs in areas like aerospace engineering, architecture, and agriculture. Its emphasis on hands-on learning leads to unique project-based courses in many disciplines.
Which school is closer to Los Angeles?

Cal State Long Beach is closer to the city of Los Angeles than Cal Poly Pomona. Long Beach is located in the southern part of Los Angeles County, while Pomona is located in the eastern part of the county. This difference in location can impact access to internships, cultural events, and other opportunities in the greater Los Angeles area.

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