California State University-San Marcos vs Pomona College: which has better ROI?
Pomona College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $77,140 in 2.6 years versus 2.8 years at California State University-San Marcos, on median earnings of $77,779 vs $62,908 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California State University-San Marcos | Pomona College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,229 | $19,285 |
| Total net cost | $40,916 | $77,140 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,908 | $77,779 |
| Median debt | $17,350 | $11,782 |
| Payback | 2.8 yrs | 2.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $250,044 | $511,240 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, California State University-San Marcos or Pomona College?
California State University-San Marcos, at $10,229 a year after aid versus $19,285 — a gap of $9,056 a year, or $36,224 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do California State University-San Marcos or Pomona College graduates earn more?
Pomona College graduates report a median $77,779 ten years after entry, $14,871 more than the $62,908 at California State University-San Marcos. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, California State University-San Marcos or Pomona College?
Pomona College: its completers carry a median $11,782 in federal loans versus $17,350 at California State University-San Marcos, a difference of $5,568. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
93% of students finish at Pomona College, against 55% at California State University-San Marcos. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.