Cal Poly vs. Claremont McKenna

Should I go to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo or Claremont McKenna College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal Poly or Claremont McKenna 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. Claremont McKenna College comparison
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Claremont McKenna College College 3 College 4
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Claremont McKenna College
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Overview

Cal Poly Claremont McKenna
Location San Luis Obispo, CA Claremont, CA
Setting Small Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 22,000 1,389
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #155 #18
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calpoly.edu claremontmckenna.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal Poly Claremont McKenna
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $60,480
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $60,480
Room & Board $16,449 $18,712
Avg Net Price $19,184 $28,701
Avg Grant Aid $10,065 $50,020
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 49%

Admission

Cal Poly Claremont McKenna
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,774 5,709
Admitted 17,885 591
Acceptance Rate 30.4% 10.4%
Enrolled % 28.6% 54.5%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.89
Typical High School Grades A/A+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition High Very High
ACT Range 26/32 33/35
SAT Range 1220/1410 1440/1550
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 Jan 5, 2024

Academics

Cal Poly Claremont McKenna
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Social Sciences (44%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (7%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Cal Poly Claremont McKenna
Graduation Rate 75% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,400 $97,800
Making Student Loan Payments 85% -
Median Student Loan Debt $18,666 $14,967
Median Loan Payment $193 $154

Diversity

Cal Poly Claremont McKenna
% Men 51% 49%
% Women 49% 51%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 42%
% Black 1% 4%
% Hispanic 16% 14%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 7%
% International 2% 17%
% Unknown Race 5% 6%

Students

Cal Poly Claremont McKenna
% In-State 83% 42%
% Out-of-State 16% 41%

Campus

Cal Poly Claremont McKenna
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 Claremont McKenna based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 1,389 students)

Cal Poly vs. Claremont McKenna Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Claremont McKenna?

  • Claremont McKenna College is 953.3% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($60,480.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 243.2% higher at Claremont McKenna than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($60,480.00 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 Claremont McKenna ($19,184 vs. $28,701)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 13.8% lower than costs at Claremont McKenna College ($16,449 vs. $18,712)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Claremont McKenna College than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (49% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Claremont McKenna College students is 397% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($50,020 vs. $10,065)

Cal Poly vs. Claremont McKenna Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Claremont McKenna College (1408) is 149 points higher than at Cal Poly (1259)
  • Incoming Claremont McKenna students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Cal Poly (29)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Claremont McKenna (3.89)
  • Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (30.4%) than Claremont McKenna (10.4%)

Cal Poly vs. Claremont McKenna Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal Poly or Claremont McKenna? 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 Claremont McKenna and Cal Poly.

  • The graduation rate at Claremont McKenna is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (91% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Claremont McKenna College earn on average $28,400 more per year than Cal Poly graduates after ten years. ($97,800 vs. $69,400)
  • Claremont McKenna College students graduate with a $3,699 lower median federal student loan debt than Cal Poly graduates. ($14,967 vs. $18,666)
  • Claremont McKenna graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than Cal Poly graduates. ($154 vs. $193)

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