Cal Poly vs. UCSD

Comparable Facts

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

University of California San Diego is larger than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (44,256 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 San Diego is in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; University of California San Diego 19:1.

Cal Poly vs. UCSD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UCSD? 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 San Diego than Cal Poly ($14,047 vs. $17,453).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 0.9% lower than at University of California San Diego ($18,792 vs. $18,970).
• University of California San Diego is 23.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $3,162 more per year; $16,758.00 vs. $13,596.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47% higher at UCSD than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $16,293 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $34,665.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California San Diego than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (59% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 79.6% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($25,757 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. UCSD Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California San Diego (1380) is 60 points higher than at Cal Poly (1320).
• Incoming UCSD students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 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 San Diego 1270/1480.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; University of California San Diego 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; UCSD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; UCSD Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UCSD (3.82).
• Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (31.3%) than UCSD (26.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 20.4% at UCSD.

Cal Poly vs. UCSD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and UCSD? 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 San Diego'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 $1,500 more per year than UCSD graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $67,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $166 lower median loan debt than Cal Poly graduates ($18,500 vs. $18,666).
• Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal Poly graduates ($191 vs. $193).
• More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSD students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 82%)

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.