Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
UCSD Caltech UCI UCSC UC Davis San Diego State UCLA UW-Seattle UC Berkeley California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona USC| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | University of California Santa Barbara | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cal Poly | UCSB | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Santa Barbara, CA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Midsize Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 22,000 | 26,420 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #155 | #109 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | ucsb.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | UCSB | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $11,564 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $41,636 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,449 | $16,883 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,184 | $16,874 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,065 | $20,389 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 53% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | UCSB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,774 | 110,995 | ||
| Admitted | 17,885 | 28,688 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 25.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 17.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.82 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | High | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 28/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1230/1460 | ||
| 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 | UCSB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Cal Poly | UCSB | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 80% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $59,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 73% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $16,451 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $170 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | UCSB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 45% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 55% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 35% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 26% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 8% | ||
| % International | 2% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 3% |
Students |
Cal Poly | UCSB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 78% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 10% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | UCSB | ||
| 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 Santa Barbara is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (26,420 students vs. 22,000 students)
Cal Poly vs. UCSB Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UCSB?
- University of California Santa Barbara 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 UCSB 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 Santa Barbara than Cal Poly ($16,874 vs. $19,184)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 2.6% lower than costs at University of California Santa Barbara ($16,449 vs. $16,883)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of California Santa Barbara than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (53% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 102.6% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($20,389 vs. $10,065)
Cal Poly vs. UCSB Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or UCSB? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UCSB or Cal Poly .
- The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 11 points higher than at UCSB (1248)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have at the same average ACT score (29) as students at UCSB (29)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UCSB (3.82)
- Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (30.4%) than UCSB (25.8%)
Cal Poly vs. UCSB Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or UCSB? 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 UCSB and Cal Poly.
- The graduation rate at UCSB is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (80% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $10,400 more per year than UCSB graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $59,000)
- University of California Santa Barbara students graduate with a $2,215 lower median federal student loan debt than Cal Poly graduates. ($16,451 vs. $18,666)
- UCSB graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Cal Poly graduates. ($170 vs. $193)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSB students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 73%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/