Cal Poly vs. IU

Deciding between California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and Indiana University Bloomington? 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
Indiana University Bloomington

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • Setting
  • Cal Poly Small Suburban
  • IU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal Poly 23,069
  • IU 48,424
  • Type
  • Cal Poly Public 4 Year
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cal Poly #151
  • IU #207
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cal Poly -
  • IU -
  • Status
  • Cal Poly Non-profit
  • IU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cal Poly
  • IU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cal Poly $13,596
  • IU $12,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cal Poly $34,665
  • IU $41,891
  • Room & Board
  • Cal Poly $18,792
  • IU $13,984
  • Average Net Price
  • Cal Poly $17,453
  • IU $17,270
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly $14,338
  • IU $10,487
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly 48%
  • IU 73%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cal Poly 68,371
  • IU 67,658
  • Admitted
  • Cal Poly 21,416
  • IU 52,918
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cal Poly 31.3%
  • IU 78.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Cal Poly 24.6%
  • IU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal Poly 1320
  • IU 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal Poly 29
  • IU 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cal Poly 4.0
  • IU 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cal Poly A/A+
  • IU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cal Poly Very High
  • IU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cal Poly High
  • IU
  • ACT Range
  • Cal Poly 26/32
  • IU 27/33
  • SAT Range
  • Cal Poly 1220/1410
  • IU 1170/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cal Poly Test-free
  • IU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026
  • IU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cal Poly 19:1
  • IU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cal Poly
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Agriculture (15%)
    • Architecture (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cal Poly 75%
  • IU 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cal Poly $69,400
  • IU $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cal Poly 85%
  • IU 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cal Poly $18,666
  • IU $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cal Poly $193
  • IU $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cal Poly 49%
  • IU 50%
  • % Women
  • Cal Poly 51%
  • IU 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cal Poly High
  • IU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Cal Poly No
  • IU No
  • % White
  • Cal Poly 57%
  • IU 71%
  • % Asian
  • Cal Poly 12%
  • IU 4%
  • % Black
  • Cal Poly 1%
  • IU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cal Poly 16%
  • IU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • IU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • IU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cal Poly 7%
  • IU 4%
  • % International
  • Cal Poly 2%
  • IU 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cal Poly 5%
  • IU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cal Poly 83%
  • IU 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cal Poly 17%
  • IU 41%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 23,069 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); Indiana University Bloomington is in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting).
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; Indiana University Bloomington 18:1.

Cal Poly vs. IU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or IU? 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 Indiana University Bloomington than Cal Poly ($17,270 vs. $17,453).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 25.6% lower than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($13,984 vs. $18,792).
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is 12% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $1,452 more per year; $13,596.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.8% higher at IU than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $7,226 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $34,665.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana University Bloomington than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (73% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 36.7% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($14,338 vs. $10,487).

Cal Poly vs. IU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1320) is 30 points higher than at IU (1290).
  • Incoming IU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Cal Poly).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; Indiana University Bloomington 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; IU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at IU (3.74).
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 18.2% at IU.

Cal Poly vs. IU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and IU? 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 Indiana University Bloomington's (72%).
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $13,200 more per year than IU graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates have a $3,834 lower median loan debt than IU graduates ($18,666 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Cal Poly graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IU graduates ($193 vs. $232).
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 72%)

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.