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Caltech UCSB Miami San Diego State UCSC UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle IU Kentucky California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | University of Cincinnati Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Cal Poly | UC | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Cincinnati, OH | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,000 | 41,155 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #155 | #413 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | uc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | UC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $11,498 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $26,862 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,449 | $12,852 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,184 | $20,149 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,065 | $8,733 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 64% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,774 | 29,025 | ||
| Admitted | 17,885 | 25,024 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 86.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 25.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.69 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 24/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1160/1360 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2023 | Mar 1, 2024 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | UC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Cal Poly | UC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 59% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $45,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 57% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $237 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 4% |
Students |
Cal Poly | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 78% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 17% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | UC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Cincinnati Main Campus is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (41,155 students vs. 22,000 students)
Cal Poly vs. UC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UC?
- University of Cincinnati Main Campus is 100.2% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($11,498.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 52.4% higher at UC than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($26,862.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than UC ($19,184 vs. $20,149)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus are 28% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($12,852 vs. $16,449)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Cincinnati Main Campus than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (64% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 15.3% larger than aid received University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($10,065 vs. $8,733)
Cal Poly vs. UC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or UC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC or Cal Poly .
- The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 94 points higher than at UC (1165)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at UC (26)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UC (3.69)
- UC has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)
Cal Poly vs. UC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or UC? 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 UC and Cal Poly.
- The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than University of Cincinnati Main Campus (75% vs. 59%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $23,800 more per year than UC graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $45,600)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $4,334 lower median federal student loan debt than UC graduates. ($18,666 vs. $23,000)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than UC graduates. ($193 vs. $237)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 57%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/