Cal Poly vs. UC Berkeley

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Berkeley is larger than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (45,882 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); University of California Berkeley is in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Berkeley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; University of California Berkeley 18:1.

Cal Poly vs. UC Berkeley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UC Berkeley? 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 University of California Berkeley than Cal Poly ($16,538 vs. $17,453).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 20.9% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($18,792 vs. $23,750).
• University of California Berkeley is 20.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $2,751 more per year; $16,347.00 vs. $13,596.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.8% higher at UC Berkeley than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $15,882 more per year; $50,547.00 vs. $34,665.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Berkeley than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (53% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 106.5% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($29,608 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. UC Berkeley Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Berkeley (1420) is 100 points higher than at Cal Poly (1320).
• Incoming UC Berkeley students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 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; University of California Berkeley 1310/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; University of California Berkeley 30/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; UC Berkeley - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UC Berkeley (3.87).
• Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (31.3%) than UC Berkeley (11%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 46% at UC Berkeley.

Cal Poly vs. UC Berkeley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and UC Berkeley? 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).

• University of California Berkeley's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's (75%).
• Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than Cal Poly graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,700 vs. $69,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $4,466 lower median loan debt than Cal Poly graduates ($14,200 vs. $18,666).
• Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal Poly graduates ($146 vs. $193).
• More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Berkeley students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 79%)

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.