Side-by-side
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs University of California-Santa Cruz
The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.
Similar selectivity (75% vs 66%) but out-of-state cost runs $20k — meaningfully less than $50k.
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | University of California-Santa Cruz | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 75% | 66% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $7,780 | $16,005 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $20,380 | $50,205 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | $7,780 | $16,005 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | $20,380 | $50,205 |
| Graduation rate | 68% | 75% |
| Total enrollment | 25,042 | 17,940 |
Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona-vs-university-of-california-santa-cruz.