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Caltech UCSB San Diego State UCSC UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona UCI Colorado School of Mines UC Merced| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | Pacific Union College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Cal Poly | PUC | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Angwin, CA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 22,000 | 870 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #155 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Seventh Day Adventists | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | puc.edu | ||
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Costs |
Cal Poly | PUC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $32,655 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $32,655 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,449 | $9,273 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,184 | $21,841 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,065 | $23,383 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 100% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | PUC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,774 | 1,364 | ||
| Admitted | 17,885 | 661 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 48.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 16.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.24 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 18/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 990/1200 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2023 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | PUC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Cal Poly | PUC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $59,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 57% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $30,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $310 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | PUC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 26% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 28% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 7% | ||
| % International | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 5% |
Students |
Cal Poly | PUC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 21% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | PUC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than PUC based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 870 students)
Cal Poly vs. PUC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or PUC?
- Pacific Union College is 468.7% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($32,655.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 85.3% higher at PUC than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($32,655.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than PUC ($19,184 vs. $21,841)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Union College are 77.4% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($9,273 vs. $16,449)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Union College than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (100% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Union College students is 132.3% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($23,383 vs. $10,065)
Cal Poly vs. PUC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or PUC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PUC or Cal Poly .
- The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 275 points higher than at PUC (984)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have a 8 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at PUC (21)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.76 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at PUC (3.24)
- PUC has a higher acceptance rate (48.5%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)
Cal Poly vs. PUC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or PUC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between PUC and Cal Poly.
- The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than Pacific Union College (75% vs. 45%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $10,200 more per year than PUC graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $59,200)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $11,334 lower median federal student loan debt than PUC graduates. ($18,666 vs. $30,000)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $117 less per month on federal student loans than PUC graduates. ($193 vs. $310)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PUC students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 57%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/