Cal Poly vs. UOP

Should I go to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo or University of the Pacific? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal Poly or UOP is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo vs. University of the Pacific comparison
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo University of the Pacific College 3 College 4
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo University of the Pacific
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Overview

Cal Poly UOP
Location San Luis Obispo, CA Stockton, CA
Setting Small Suburban Large City
Enrollment 22,000 6,277
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #155 #161
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calpoly.edu pacific.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal Poly UOP
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $52,918
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $52,918
Room & Board $16,449 $14,420
Avg Net Price $19,184 $28,164
Avg Grant Aid $10,065 $38,322
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 96%

Admission

Cal Poly UOP
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,774 5,891
Admitted 17,885 5,492
Acceptance Rate 30.4% 93.2%
Enrolled % 28.6% 15.4%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.58
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 26/32 25/33
SAT Range 1220/1410 1120/1423
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 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Cal Poly UOP
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Cal Poly UOP
Graduation Rate 75% 69%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,400 $81,400
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,666 $24,625
Median Loan Payment $193 $254

Diversity

Cal Poly UOP
% Men 51% 43%
% Women 49% 57%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 27%
% Black 1% 3%
% Hispanic 16% 18%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 7% 6%
% International 2% 7%
% Unknown Race 5% 4%

Students

Cal Poly UOP
% In-State 83% 82%
% Out-of-State 16% 9%

Campus

Cal Poly UOP
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than UOP based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 6,277 students)

Cal Poly vs. UOP Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UOP?

  • University of the Pacific is 821.6% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($52,918.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 200.3% higher at UOP than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($52,918.00 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 UOP ($19,184 vs. $28,164)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the Pacific are 14.1% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($14,420 vs. $16,449)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of the Pacific than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (96% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of the Pacific students is 280.7% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($38,322 vs. $10,065)

Cal Poly vs. UOP Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or UOP? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UOP or Cal Poly .

  • The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 107 points higher than at UOP (1152)
  • Incoming Cal Poly students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at UOP (26)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UOP (3.58)
  • UOP has a higher acceptance rate (93.2%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)

Cal Poly vs. UOP Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal Poly or UOP? 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 UOP and Cal Poly.

  • The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than University of the Pacific (75% vs. 69%)
  • Graduates from University of the Pacific earn on average $12,000 more per year than Cal Poly graduates after ten years. ($81,400 vs. $69,400)
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $5,959 lower median federal student loan debt than UOP graduates. ($18,666 vs. $24,625)
  • Cal Poly graduates are paying $61 less per month on federal student loans than UOP graduates. ($193 vs. $254)
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UOP students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/