Cal Poly vs. CSU

Deciding between California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and California State University Chico? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
California State University Chico

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA
  • CSU Chico, CA
  • Setting
  • Cal Poly Small Suburban
  • CSU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal Poly 23,069
  • CSU 15,257
  • Type
  • Cal Poly Public 4 Year
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cal Poly #151
  • CSU #675
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cal Poly -
  • CSU -
  • Status
  • Cal Poly Non-profit
  • CSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cal Poly
  • CSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cal Poly $13,596
  • CSU $8,472
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cal Poly $34,665
  • CSU $21,072
  • Room & Board
  • Cal Poly $18,792
  • CSU $16,500
  • Average Net Price
  • Cal Poly $17,453
  • CSU $14,630
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly $14,338
  • CSU $11,509
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly 48%
  • CSU 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cal Poly 68,371
  • CSU 23,322
  • Admitted
  • Cal Poly 21,416
  • CSU 21,623
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cal Poly 31.3%
  • CSU 92.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Cal Poly 24.6%
  • CSU 10.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal Poly 1320
  • CSU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal Poly 29
  • CSU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cal Poly 4.0
  • CSU 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cal Poly A/A+
  • CSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cal Poly Very High
  • CSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cal Poly High
  • CSU
  • ACT Range
  • Cal Poly 26/32
  • CSU 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • Cal Poly 1220/1410
  • CSU 970/1170
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cal Poly Test-free
  • CSU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026
  • CSU Dec 15, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cal Poly 19:1
  • CSU 23:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cal Poly
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Agriculture (15%)
    • Architecture (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • CSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cal Poly 75%
  • CSU 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cal Poly $69,400
  • CSU $52,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cal Poly 85%
  • CSU 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cal Poly $18,666
  • CSU $17,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cal Poly $193
  • CSU $175

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cal Poly 49%
  • CSU 43%
  • % Women
  • Cal Poly 51%
  • CSU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cal Poly High
  • CSU High
  • HBCU
  • Cal Poly No
  • CSU No
  • % White
  • Cal Poly 57%
  • CSU 46%
  • % Asian
  • Cal Poly 12%
  • CSU 6%
  • % Black
  • Cal Poly 1%
  • CSU 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cal Poly 16%
  • CSU 29%
  • % Native American
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • CSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • CSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cal Poly 7%
  • CSU 5%
  • % International
  • Cal Poly 2%
  • CSU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cal Poly 5%
  • CSU 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cal Poly 83%
  • CSU 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cal Poly 17%
  • CSU 1%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • CSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cal Poly No
  • CSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • CSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cal Poly No
  • CSU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • CSU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, CA with California State University Chico in Chico, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than CSU based on total student enrollment (23,069 students vs. 15,257 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Small Suburban setting); California State University Chico is in Chico, CA (Small City setting).
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; California State University Chico 23:1.

Cal Poly vs. CSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or CSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Chico than Cal Poly ($14,630 vs. $17,453).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 12.2% lower than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($16,500 vs. $18,792).
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is 60.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $5,124 more per year; $13,596.00 vs. $8,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 64.5% higher at Cal Poly than at California State University Chico (about $13,593 more per year; $34,665.00 vs. $21,072.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Chico than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (66% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 24.6% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($14,338 vs. $11,509).

Cal Poly vs. CSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or CSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CSU and Cal Poly.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1320) is 250 points higher than at CSU (1070).
  • Incoming Cal Poly students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 21 at CSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; California State University Chico 970/1170.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; California State University Chico 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; CSU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; CSU Dec 15, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.63 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at CSU (3.37).
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 10.2% at CSU.

Cal Poly vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and CSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than California State University Chico's (59%).
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $17,000 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $52,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Chico graduates have a $1,666 lower median loan debt than Cal Poly graduates ($17,000 vs. $18,666).
  • Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal Poly graduates ($175 vs. $193).
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.