by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Cal Poly Pomona retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 87% students making it past their freshmen year, Cal Poly Pomona has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Cal Poly Pomona | 87% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 5932 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 50% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 73% of the students had graduated and after eight years 77% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical Cal Poly Pomona graduation rate 73%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4039 | 50% |
| Six Years | 5932 | 73% |
| Eight Years | 264 | 4% |
| Did Not Complete | 1878 | 23% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 1878 students or 23% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1878 students who did not complete their degree?
60 are still enrolled.
1044 transferred to another institution.
Cal Poly Pomona lost contact with the remaining 757 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 60 | 3.2% |
| Transferred | 1044 | 55.6% |
| Dropped Out | 757 | 40.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 77% |
| Black / African-American | 53% |
| Hawaiian | 25% |
| Hispanic | 61% |
| International | 65% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 71% |
| Unknown | 72% |
| White | 73% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
The majority of students at Cal Poly Pomona are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona represent 50.53% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cal Poly Pomona graduation rate was 66%, and by the eight year mark, 72% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Cal Poly Pomona | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 66% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 47.82% |
1162 first-time / full-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
60 are still enrolled.
683 transferred to another institution.
Cal Poly Pomona lost contact with the remaining 419 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 60 | 5.16% |
| Transferred | 683 | 58.78% |
| Dropped Out | 419 | 36.06% |
First-time / part-time students at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona represent 1.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cal Poly Pomona graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 34% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Cal Poly Pomona | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 30% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 23.72% |
82 first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
50 transferred to another institution.
Cal Poly Pomona lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 3.66% |
| Transferred | 50 | 60.98% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 35.37% |
Returning / full-time students at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona represent 41.74% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cal Poly Pomona graduation rate was 85%, and by the eight year mark, 86% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Cal Poly Pomona | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 85% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 86% | 55.07% |
484 non first-time / part-time students or 14% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
238 transferred to another institution.
Cal Poly Pomona lost contact with the remaining 236 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 2.07% |
| Transferred | 238 | 49.17% |
| Dropped Out | 236 | 48.76% |
Returning / part-time students at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona represent 6.18% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cal Poly Pomona graduation rate was 68%, and by the eight year mark, 70% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Cal Poly Pomona | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 55% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 68% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 37.80% |
150 non first-time / part-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
73 transferred to another institution.
Cal Poly Pomona lost contact with the remaining 73 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.67% |
| Transferred | 73 | 48.67% |
| Dropped Out | 73 | 48.67% |
