Head-to-head comparison
University of California-Santa Barbara vs Pomona College: which has better ROI?
Option A Santa Barbara, CA
University of California-Santa Barbara
- Net price / year
- $16,109
- Earnings, 10 years
- $74,915
- Payback
- 2.4 yrs
Option B Claremont, CA
Pomona College
- Net price / year
- $19,285
- Earnings, 10 years
- $77,779
- Payback
- 2.6 yrs
University of California-Santa Barbara has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $64,436 in 2.4 years versus 2.6 years at Pomona College, on median earnings of $74,915 vs $77,779 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of California-Santa Barbara | Pomona College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,109 | $19,285 |
| Total net cost | $64,436 | $77,140 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $74,915 | $77,779 |
| Median debt | $13,993 | $11,782 |
| Payback | 2.4 yrs | 2.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $466,664 | $511,240 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of California-Santa Barbara or Pomona College?
University of California-Santa Barbara, at $16,109 a year after aid versus $19,285 — a gap of $3,176 a year, or $12,704 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 University of California-Santa Barbara or Pomona College graduates earn more?
Pomona College graduates report a median $77,779 ten years after entry, $2,864 more than the $74,915 at University of California-Santa Barbara. 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, University of California-Santa Barbara or Pomona College?
Pomona College: its completers carry a median $11,782 in federal loans versus $13,993 at University of California-Santa Barbara, a difference of $2,211. 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?
93% of students finish at Pomona College, against 83% at University of California-Santa Barbara. 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.