Cal Poly vs. Concordia University-Irvine

Should I go to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo or Concordia University Irvine? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal Poly or Concordia University-Irvine 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Caltech UCSB San Diego State UCSC UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona UCI Colorado School of Mines UC Merced
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo vs. Concordia University Irvine comparison
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Concordia University Irvine College 3 College 4
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Concordia University Irvine
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Cal Poly Concordia University-Irvine
Location San Luis Obispo, CA Irvine, CA
Setting Small Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 22,000 3,744
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #155 #472
Religious Affiliation - Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calpoly.edu cui.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Cal Poly Concordia University-Irvine
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $39,330
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $39,330
Room & Board $16,449 $12,770
Avg Net Price $19,184 $29,508
Avg Grant Aid $10,065 $24,623
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 100%

Admission

 Cal Poly Concordia University-Irvine
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,774 3,576
Admitted 17,885 2,467
Acceptance Rate 30.4% 69%
Enrolled % 28.6% 13.9%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.61
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range 26/32 21/29
SAT Range 1220/1410 1030/1260
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2023

Academics

 Cal Poly Concordia University-Irvine
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 (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (19%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

 Cal Poly Concordia University-Irvine
Graduation Rate 75% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,400 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,666 $22,678
Median Loan Payment $193 $234

Diversity

 Cal Poly Concordia University-Irvine
% Men 51% 37%
% Women 49% 63%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 45%
% Black 1% 4%
% Hispanic 16% 21%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 5%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 14%

Students

 Cal Poly Concordia University-Irvine
% In-State 83% 66%
% Out-of-State 16% 29%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than Concordia University-Irvine based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 3,744 students)

Cal Poly vs. Concordia University-Irvine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Concordia University-Irvine?

  • Concordia University Irvine is 585% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($39,330.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 123.2% higher at Concordia University-Irvine than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($39,330.00 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 Concordia University-Irvine ($19,184 vs. $29,508)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Concordia University Irvine are 28.8% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($12,770 vs. $16,449)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Concordia University Irvine than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (100% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Concordia University Irvine students is 144.6% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($24,623 vs. $10,065)

Cal Poly vs. Concordia University-Irvine Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 230 points higher than at Concordia University-Irvine (1029)
  • Incoming Cal Poly students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Concordia University-Irvine (23)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Concordia University-Irvine (3.61)
  • Concordia University-Irvine has a higher acceptance rate (69%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)

Cal Poly vs. Concordia University-Irvine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal Poly or Concordia University-Irvine? 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 Concordia University-Irvine and Cal Poly.

  • The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than Concordia University Irvine (75% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $21,100 more per year than Concordia University-Irvine graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $48,300)
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $4,012 lower median federal student loan debt than Concordia University-Irvine graduates. ($18,666 vs. $22,678)
  • Cal Poly graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than Concordia University-Irvine graduates. ($193 vs. $234)
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Concordia University-Irvine 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/