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College Comparison

UC Santa Barbara vs Pomona College: Which is Better?

Side-by-side comparison of acceptance rates, SAT scores, tuition, earnings, and more — updated with the latest College Scorecard data.

School

UC Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA

School

Pomona College

Claremont, CA

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricUC Santa BarbaraPomona
Acceptance Rate27.8%6.8%wins
SAT Range (25th–75th)N/A1480–1560wins
ACT Range (25th–75th)N/A33–35
Tuition (Out-of-State)$45,742wins$62,326
Avg Net Price$13,825wins$19,424
Median Earnings (10 yr)$74,915$77,779wins
Graduation Rate85.3%93.2%wins
Retention Rate91.9%95.9%wins
Student–Faculty Ratio17:17:1wins
Total Enrollment23,205wins1,638

Verdict

Based on the data above, Pomona edges out UC Santa Barbara on 6 of 9 measurable categories — including key factors like acceptance rate, earnings, and graduation rate. That said, the right choice depends heavily on your major, financial situation, and campus culture fit.

UC Santa Barbara Strengths

  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $45,742
  • Avg Net Price: $13,825
  • Total Enrollment: 23,205

Pomona Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 6.8%
  • SAT Range (25th–75th): 1480–1560
  • Median Earnings (10 yr): $77,779
  • Graduation Rate: 93.2%

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