Points of Distinction

Cal Poly Pomona is one of only nine polytechnic universities in the country (Arizona State University Polytechnic; Cal Poly Pomona; Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Northwestern Polytechnic University, CA; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY; Southern Polytechnic State University, GA; Stout-Wisconsin Polytechnic University; Virginia Polytechnic State University; Worcester Polytechnic University, MA)

The Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Rose Float is the only continuing Rose Parade entry by a university and the only one that is entirely a student effort.  The float has won 46 awards.  In 2008, the float “Guardians of Harmony” was awarded the “Fantasy Trophy” – Most Outstanding Display of Creativity & Imagination. The 2009 float entry, “Seaside Amusement,” will mark the 61^st anniversary of the Cal Poly’s participation.

The university’s Arabian horse breeding program is the oldest continuous and fifth largest in the United States, with more than 70 percent of the domestic Arabian bloodstock in the U.S. tracing its lineage to the original Kellogg breeding program at Cal Poly Pomona.

Cal Poly Pomona was the first university to establish an undergraduate program in Computer Information Systems in the U.S.

Cal Poly Pomona was the first university to establish an undergraduate program in Biotechnology with an emphasis in Business in the U.S.

Cal Poly Pomona is one of two in the CSU System (CS San Marcos) to offer an undergraduate major in biotechnology.

Cal Poly Pomona is the only CSU and one of four universities in California (Stanford, UC Davis, Naval Postgraduate School) to be designated as a "National Center of Excellence in Information Assurance Education" (2005-08) by the Department of Homeland Security and National Security Agency.

Cal Poly Pomona graduates the largest number of underrepresented engineers and computer scientists in California.

Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Engineering produces 1 out of 14 engineering graduates in California.

Cal Poly Pomona is the only one of 16 accredited manufacturing engineering programs in the U.S. and only one of two in California (San Luis Obispo).

Cal Poly Pomona has the distinction of being one of only two universities in the CSU system to offer a degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering and Aerospace Engineering.

Cal Poly Pomona has traditionally the largest student population in the U.S. for Civil Engineering, over 1,400 undergraduates.

Cal Poly Pomona has the second largest student population in the U.S. for Electrical Engineering, over 1,200 undergraduates.

One out of every five architects who passes the California Architecture Registration Exam to become a licensed architect is a Cal Poly Pomona graduate.

Cal Poly Pomona is the only four-year institution granting bachelors and masters of Science degrees in agriculture in Southern California.

Cal Poly Pomona became the first university in California to have body scanning technology. The 3D body scanner will be used by students in the Apparel Merchandising and Management program for customized fitting apparel, sizing surveys and apparel sizing standards.

Cal Poly Pomona has the oldest and largest hospitality management program in California.

Cal Poly Pomona has the only university lighting degree program west of Colorado: the Center for Lighting Education & Applied Research.  The program’s photometric laboratory is the only one of its kind at any U.S. university.

The College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences has one of only two four-year degree music business programs (CS Northridge) in Southern California.

The John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies is the first center of its kind to demonstrate integrated regenerative systems at a university.  It is one of only a few universities in the U.S. with a center devoted to regenerative studies.

The College of Business Administration is accredited by Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, a designation of excellence attained by only 15 percent of business schools worldwide.

The BioTrek Center is the only facility of its kind at a university in the world.

Cal Poly Pomona has 37 computer labs on campus for general student use including a 24-hour lab in the University Library.

Cal Poly Pomona has over 250 active student clubs and organizations, 109 of these clubs/organizations are academic-based.

Cal Poly Pomona has over 1,200 enrolled international students representing 72 different countries.

Cal Poly Pomona conferred over 3,000 degrees at the 2008 commencement ceremonies.  Cal Poly Pomona has over 106,000 alumni.