Cal Poly vs. UCLA

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Los Angeles is larger than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (47,335 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 Los Angeles is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; University of California Los Angeles 20:1.

Cal Poly vs. UCLA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UCLA? 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 Los Angeles than Cal Poly ($14,512 vs. $17,453).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Los Angeles are 2.3% lower than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($18,369 vs. $18,792).
• University of California Los Angeles is 11.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $1,607 more per year; $15,203.00 vs. $13,596.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.5% higher at UCLA than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $14,738 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $34,665.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Los Angeles than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (49% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 78.7% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($25,627 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. UCLA Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is 100 points higher than at Cal Poly (1320).
• Incoming UCLA 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 Los Angeles 1300/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; University of California Los Angeles 29/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); UCLA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; UCLA Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UCLA (3.92).
• Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (31.3%) than UCLA (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 50.4% at UCLA.

Cal Poly vs. UCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and UCLA? 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 Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's (75%).
• Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than Cal Poly graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $69,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $2,366 lower median loan debt than Cal Poly graduates ($16,300 vs. $18,666).
• Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal Poly graduates ($168 vs. $193).
• More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCLA students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 78%)

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.