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UCLA UCSD Caltech UCSB UC Davis San Diego State UC Riverside UCSC UC Berkeley UW-Seattle California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | University of California Irvine | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Cal Poly | UCI | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Irvine, CA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 22,000 | 35,937 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #155 | #91 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | uci.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | UCI | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $11,564 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $41,636 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,449 | $17,699 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,184 | $14,033 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,065 | $17,411 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 80% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | UCI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,774 | 119,191 | ||
| Admitted | 17,885 | 25,212 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 21.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 22.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 26/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1230/1430 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2023 | Nov 30, 2023 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | UCI | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Cal Poly | UCI | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $61,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $17,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $175 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | UCI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 45% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 55% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 15% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 25% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 16% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
Cal Poly | UCI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 81% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 7% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | UCI | ||
| 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
- University of California Irvine is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (35,937 students vs. 22,000 students)
Cal Poly vs. UCI Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UCI?
- University of California Irvine is 101.4% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($11,564.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 136.3% higher at UCI than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($41,636.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Irvine than Cal Poly ($14,033 vs. $19,184)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 7.6% lower than costs at University of California Irvine ($16,449 vs. $17,699)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of California Irvine than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (80% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Irvine students is 73% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($17,411 vs. $10,065)
Cal Poly vs. UCI Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or UCI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UCI or Cal Poly .
- The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 84 points higher than at UCI (1175)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at UCI (27)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UCI (3.75)
- Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (30.4%) than UCI (21.2%)
Cal Poly vs. UCI Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or UCI? 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 UCI and Cal Poly.
- The graduation rate at UCI is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (85% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $7,600 more per year than UCI graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $61,800)
- University of California Irvine students graduate with a $1,666 lower median federal student loan debt than Cal Poly graduates. ($17,000 vs. $18,666)
- UCI graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Cal Poly graduates. ($175 vs. $193)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCI students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/