Cal Poly vs. Claremont McKenna

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and Claremont McKenna College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Claremont McKenna College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Claremont McKenna (9.6% admitted vs 31.3%). Typical SAT 1520 vs 1320.
  • Cheaper after aid: Cal Poly. Average net price is $17,453 vs $33,895 at Claremont McKenna.
  • Graduation: Cal Poly 75% vs Claremont McKenna 91%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Cal Poly $69,400 vs Claremont McKenna $97,800 (median).
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Key differences

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Claremont McKenna College
Acceptance rate
Claremont McKenna more selective
Cal Poly31.3%
Claremont McKenna9.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Claremont McKenna higher
Cal Poly1220-1410
Claremont McKenna1470-1560
Average net price
Cal Poly $16,442 less
Cal Poly$17,453
Claremont McKenna$33,895
In-state tuition
Cal Poly $54,384 less
Cal Poly$13,596
Claremont McKenna$67,980
Out-of-state tuition
Cal Poly $33,315 less
Cal Poly$34,665
Claremont McKenna$67,980
Graduation rate
Claremont McKenna +16 pts
Cal Poly75%
Claremont McKenna91%
Median earnings (10 years)
Claremont McKenna +$28,400
Cal Poly$69,400
Claremont McKenna$97,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Cal Poly 68,371
  • Claremont McKenna 6,529
  • Admitted
  • Cal Poly 21,416
  • Claremont McKenna 626
  • Acceptance rate
  • Cal Poly 31.3%
  • Claremont McKenna 9.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Cal Poly 24.6%
  • Claremont McKenna 53.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal Poly 1320
  • Claremont McKenna 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal Poly 29
  • Claremont McKenna 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Cal Poly 4.0
  • Claremont McKenna 3.89
  • Typical high school grades
  • Cal Poly A/A+
  • Claremont McKenna A
  • Admissions standards
  • Cal Poly Very High
  • Claremont McKenna Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Cal Poly High
  • Claremont McKenna Very High
  • SAT range
  • Cal Poly 1220-1410
  • Claremont McKenna 1470-1560
  • ACT range
  • Cal Poly 26-32
  • Claremont McKenna 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Cal Poly Test-free
  • Claremont McKenna Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026
  • Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Cal Poly $13,596
  • Claremont McKenna $67,980
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Cal Poly $34,665
  • Claremont McKenna $67,980
  • Room & board
  • Cal Poly $18,792
  • Claremont McKenna $20,830
  • Average net price
  • Cal Poly $17,453
  • Claremont McKenna $33,895
  • Average grant aid
  • Cal Poly $14,338
  • Claremont McKenna $52,605
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Cal Poly 48%
  • Claremont McKenna 43%
  • Graduation rate
  • Cal Poly 75%
  • Claremont McKenna 91%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Cal Poly $69,400
  • Claremont McKenna $97,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • Cal Poly 85%
  • Claremont McKenna -
  • Median student loan debt
  • Cal Poly $18,666
  • Claremont McKenna $14,967
  • Median loan payment
  • Cal Poly $193
  • Claremont McKenna $154
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Cal Poly 19:1
  • Claremont McKenna 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • Cal Poly
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Agriculture (15%)
    • Architecture (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Claremont McKenna
    • Social Sciences (44%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Business (7%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Location
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA
  • Claremont McKenna Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • Cal Poly Small Suburban
  • Claremont McKenna Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal Poly 23,069
  • Claremont McKenna 1,393
  • Type
  • Cal Poly Public 4 Year
  • Claremont McKenna Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Cal Poly #151
  • Claremont McKenna #17

Comparable Facts

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

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than Claremont McKenna based on total student enrollment (23,069 students vs. 1,393 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); Claremont McKenna College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Claremont McKenna College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; Claremont McKenna College 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 9.8% lower than at Claremont McKenna College ($18,792 vs. $20,830).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 96.1% higher at Claremont McKenna than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $33,315 more per year; $67,980 vs. $34,665).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than at Claremont McKenna College (48% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Claremont McKenna College students is 266.9% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($52,605 vs. $14,338).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Claremont McKenna than at Cal Poly (34 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at Cal Poly, test optional at Claremont McKenna.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Cal Poly average a 4.0 high school GPA, 0.11 higher than at Claremont McKenna (3.89).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 53.8% at Claremont McKenna.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Claremont McKenna College graduates have a $3,699 lower median loan debt than Cal Poly graduates ($14,967 vs. $18,666).
  • Among borrowers, Claremont McKenna graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal Poly graduates ($154 vs. $193).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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