Head-to-head comparison
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs Unitek College: which has better ROI?
Option A Pomona, CA
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
- Net price / year
- $11,531
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,902
- Payback
- 2 yrs
Option B Hayward, CA
Unitek College
- Net price / year
- $19,130
- Earnings, 10 years
- $87,877
- Payback
- 1.9 yrs
Unitek College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $76,520 in 1.9 years versus 2 years at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, on median earnings of $87,877 vs $71,902 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | Unitek College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,531 | $19,130 |
| Total net cost | $46,124 | $76,520 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $71,902 | $87,877 |
| Median debt | $16,000 | $10,700 |
| Payback | 2 yrs | 1.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $424,716 | $713,820 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona or Unitek College?
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, at $11,531 a year after aid versus $19,130 — a gap of $7,599 a year, or $30,396 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do California State Polytechnic University-Pomona or Unitek College graduates earn more?
Unitek College graduates report a median $87,877 ten years after entry, $15,975 more than the $71,902 at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona or Unitek College?
Unitek College: its completers carry a median $10,700 in federal loans versus $16,000 at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, a difference of $5,300. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, against 63% at Unitek College. 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.