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Caltech UCLA UCSB Stanford San Diego State UCSC NYU Pomona Loyola Marymount Claremont McKenna UCSD UC Davis| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | University of Southern California | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Cal Poly | USC | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Los Angeles, CA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,000 | 48,945 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #155 | #34 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | usc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | USC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $63,468 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $63,468 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,449 | $17,436 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,184 | $36,808 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,065 | $45,262 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 71% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,774 | 69,062 | ||
| Admitted | 17,885 | 8,304 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 12% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 41.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.83 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 32/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1450/1550 | ||
| 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 | USC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Cal Poly | USC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 90% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $85,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $22,375 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $231 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 40% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 14% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 5% | ||
| % International | 2% | 13% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
Cal Poly | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 42% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | USC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Southern California is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (48,945 students vs. 22,000 students)
Cal Poly vs. USC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or USC?
- University of Southern California is 1,005.3% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($63,468.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 260.2% higher at USC than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($63,468.00 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 USC ($19,184 vs. $36,808)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 6% lower than costs at University of Southern California ($16,449 vs. $17,436)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Southern California than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (71% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern California students is 349.7% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($45,262 vs. $10,065)
Cal Poly vs. USC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or USC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC or Cal Poly .
- The average SAT score at University of Southern California (1391) is 132 points higher than at Cal Poly (1259)
- Incoming USC students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Cal Poly (29)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at USC (3.83)
- Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (30.4%) than USC (12%)
Cal Poly vs. USC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or USC? 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 USC and Cal Poly.
- The graduation rate at USC is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (90% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from University of Southern California earn on average $16,100 more per year than Cal Poly graduates after ten years. ($85,500 vs. $69,400)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $3,709 lower median federal student loan debt than USC graduates. ($18,666 vs. $22,375)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $38 less per month on federal student loans than USC graduates. ($193 vs. $231)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 81%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/