Skip to content

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%

Want a deeper comparison?

Our interactive compare tool lets you add more schools, filter by major, and see financial aid breakdowns by income level.

Open Compare Tool

Related Comparisons