Cal Poly vs. HIU

Deciding between California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and Hope International University? 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
Hope International University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA
  • HIU Fullerton, CA
  • Setting
  • Cal Poly Small Suburban
  • HIU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal Poly 23,069
  • HIU 1,025
  • Type
  • Cal Poly Public 4 Year
  • HIU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cal Poly #151
  • HIU #909
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cal Poly -
  • HIU Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
  • Status
  • Cal Poly Non-profit
  • HIU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cal Poly
  • HIU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cal Poly $13,596
  • HIU $38,050
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cal Poly $34,665
  • HIU $38,050
  • Room & Board
  • Cal Poly $18,792
  • HIU $12,950
  • Average Net Price
  • Cal Poly $17,453
  • HIU $29,896
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly $14,338
  • HIU $22,474
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly 48%
  • HIU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cal Poly 68,371
  • HIU 940
  • Admitted
  • Cal Poly 21,416
  • HIU 310
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cal Poly 31.3%
  • HIU 33%
  • Enrolled
  • Cal Poly 24.6%
  • HIU 38.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal Poly 1320
  • HIU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal Poly 29
  • HIU
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cal Poly 4.0
  • HIU 3.26
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cal Poly A/A+
  • HIU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cal Poly Very High
  • HIU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cal Poly High
  • HIU High
  • ACT Range
  • Cal Poly 26/32
  • HIU
  • SAT Range
  • Cal Poly 1220/1410
  • HIU 840/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cal Poly Test-free
  • HIU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026
  • HIU Aug 20, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cal Poly 19:1
  • HIU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cal Poly
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Agriculture (15%)
    • Architecture (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • HIU
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (36%)
    • Work and Family Studies (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cal Poly 75%
  • HIU 32%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cal Poly $69,400
  • HIU $39,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cal Poly 85%
  • HIU 58%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cal Poly $18,666
  • HIU $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cal Poly $193
  • HIU $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cal Poly 49%
  • HIU 38%
  • % Women
  • Cal Poly 51%
  • HIU 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cal Poly High
  • HIU High
  • HBCU
  • Cal Poly No
  • HIU No
  • % White
  • Cal Poly 57%
  • HIU 42%
  • % Asian
  • Cal Poly 12%
  • HIU 3%
  • % Black
  • Cal Poly 1%
  • HIU 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cal Poly 16%
  • HIU 21%
  • % Native American
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • HIU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • HIU 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cal Poly 7%
  • HIU 11%
  • % International
  • Cal Poly 2%
  • HIU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cal Poly 5%
  • HIU 15%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cal Poly 83%
  • HIU 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cal Poly 17%
  • HIU 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than HIU based on total student enrollment (23,069 students vs. 1,025 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); Hope International University is in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Hope International University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; Hope International University 13:1.

Cal Poly vs. HIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or HIU? 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 Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than HIU ($17,453 vs. $29,896).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hope International University are 31.1% lower than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($12,950 vs. $18,792).
  • Hope International University is 179.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $24,454 more per year; $38,050.00 vs. $13,596.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.8% higher at HIU than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $3,385 more per year; $38,050.00 vs. $34,665.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hope International University than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (100% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hope International University students is 56.7% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($22,474 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. HIU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or HIU? 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 HIU and Cal Poly.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1320) is 290 points higher than at HIU (1030).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; Hope International University 840/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; HIU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; HIU Aug 20, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.74 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at HIU (3.26).
  • HIU has a higher acceptance rate (33%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 38.4% at HIU.

Cal Poly vs. HIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and HIU? 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 Hope International University's (32%).
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $29,700 more per year than HIU graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates have a $7,334 lower median loan debt than HIU graduates ($18,666 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cal Poly graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HIU graduates ($193 vs. $268).
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HIU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 58%)

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.