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Caltech Loyola Marymount UCSB San Diego State UCSC USD UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona Oxy| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | Santa Clara University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Cal Poly | SCU | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Santa Clara, CA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,000 | 9,178 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #155 | #62 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | scu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | SCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $56,880 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $56,880 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,449 | $17,112 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,184 | $50,551 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,065 | $25,295 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 72% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | SCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,774 | 16,650 | ||
| Admitted | 17,885 | 8,677 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 52.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 18.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.67 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 29/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1290/1480 | ||
| 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, 2023 | Jan 7, 2024 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | SCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Cal Poly | SCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $81,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $222 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | SCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 50% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 50% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 49% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 17% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 7% | ||
| % International | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 4% |
Students |
Cal Poly | SCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 50% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | SCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than SCU based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 9,178 students)
Cal Poly vs. SCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or SCU?
- Santa Clara University is 890.6% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($56,880.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 222.8% higher at SCU than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($56,880.00 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 SCU ($19,184 vs. $50,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 4% lower than costs at Santa Clara University ($16,449 vs. $17,112)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Santa Clara University than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (72% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Clara University students is 151.3% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($25,295 vs. $10,065)
Cal Poly vs. SCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or SCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SCU or Cal Poly .
- The average SAT score at Santa Clara University (1313) is 54 points higher than at Cal Poly (1259)
- Incoming SCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Cal Poly (29)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at SCU (3.67)
- SCU has a higher acceptance rate (52.1%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)
Cal Poly vs. SCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or SCU? 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 SCU and Cal Poly.
- The graduation rate at SCU is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (85% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Santa Clara University earn on average $12,500 more per year than Cal Poly graduates after ten years. ($81,900 vs. $69,400)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $2,834 lower median federal student loan debt than SCU graduates. ($18,666 vs. $21,500)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than SCU graduates. ($193 vs. $222)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 84%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/