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UofSC Georgia NC State Caltech Auburn UCSB Virginia Tech Florida San Diego State UCSC Tennessee CofC| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | Clemson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Clemson, SC | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 22,485 | 28,747 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #146 | #130 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | clemson.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $14,038 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $37,982 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,220 | $12,872 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,888 | $24,408 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,707 | $10,599 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 48% | 74% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 63,736 | 60,122 | ||
| Admitted | 18,964 | 22,879 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 29.8% | 38.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.8% | 19.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | High | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 28/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1230/1390 | ||
| 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, 2024 | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 80% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $57,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 78% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $222 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 14% | 48% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
| 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
- Clemson University is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (28,747 students vs. 22,485 students)
Cal Poly vs. Clemson Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Clemson?
- Clemson University is 144.5% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($14,038.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 115.5% higher at Clemson than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($37,982.00 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 Clemson ($16,888 vs. $24,408)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 33.8% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($12,872 vs. $17,220)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Clemson University than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (74% vs. 48%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 19.9% larger than aid received Clemson University ($12,707 vs. $10,599)
Cal Poly vs. Clemson Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or Clemson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Clemson or Cal Poly .
- The average SAT score at Clemson University (1275) is 16 points higher than at Cal Poly (1259)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have at the same average ACT score (29) as students at Clemson (29)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Clemson (3.75)
- Clemson has a higher acceptance rate (38.1%) than Cal Poly (29.8%)
Cal Poly vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or Clemson? 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 Clemson and Cal Poly.
- The graduation rate at Clemson is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (80% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $12,300 more per year than Clemson graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $57,100)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $2,834 lower median federal student loan debt than Clemson graduates. ($18,666 vs. $21,500)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Clemson graduates. ($193 vs. $222)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clemson students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 78%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/