Cal Poly vs. Saint Mary's College of California

Comparable Facts

Compare California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, CA with Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than Saint Mary's College of California based on total student enrollment (23,069 students vs. 2,734 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); Saint Mary's College of California is in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; Saint Mary's College of California 10:1.

Cal Poly vs. Saint Mary's College of California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California ($17,453 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's College of California are 6.3% lower than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($17,600 vs. $18,792).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 325.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $44,207 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $13,596.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66.7% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $23,138 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $34,665.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (100% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 195.8% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($42,407 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. Saint Mary's College of California Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California and Cal Poly.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1320) is 160 points higher than at Saint Mary's College of California (1160).
• Incoming Cal Poly students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 24 at Saint Mary's College of California).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; Saint Mary's College of California 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Saint Mary's College of California (3.6).
• Saint Mary's College of California has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California.

Cal Poly vs. Saint Mary's College of California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California's (61%).
• Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Saint Mary's College of California graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $66,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates have a $6,334 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($18,666 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Cal Poly graduates have an estimated $65 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($193 vs. $258).
• More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Mary's College of California students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 71%)

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.