Cal Poly vs. UCI

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Irvine is larger than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (37,297 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 Irvine is in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Irvine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; University of California Irvine 19:1.

Cal Poly vs. UCI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UCI? 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 Irvine than Cal Poly ($15,889 vs. $17,453).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 1% lower than at University of California Irvine ($18,792 vs. $18,991).
• University of California Irvine is 15.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $2,126 more per year; $15,722.00 vs. $13,596.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 44% higher at UCI than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $15,257 more per year; $49,922.00 vs. $34,665.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Irvine than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (55% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Irvine students is 61.2% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($23,110 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. UCI Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Irvine (1330) is 10 points higher than at Cal Poly (1320).
• Incoming Cal Poly students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 29) as students at UCI (29).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; University of California Irvine 1230/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; University of California Irvine 26/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; UCI - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; UCI Nov 30, 2026.
• 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 (31.3%) than UCI (28.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 19.2% at UCI.

Cal Poly vs. UCI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and UCI? 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 Irvine's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's (75%).
• Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than UCI graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $61,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Irvine graduates have a $1,666 lower median loan debt than Cal Poly graduates ($17,000 vs. $18,666).
• Among borrowers, UCI graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.