Cal Poly vs. UConn

Should I go to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo or University of Connecticut? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal Poly or UConn is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo vs. University of Connecticut comparison
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo University of Connecticut College 3 College 4
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo University of Connecticut
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Overview

Cal Poly UConn
Location San Luis Obispo, CA Storrs, CT
Setting Small Suburban Town Fringe
Enrollment 22,000 27,003
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #155 #94
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calpoly.edu uconn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal Poly UConn
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $15,672
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $38,340
Room & Board $16,449 $13,622
Avg Net Price $19,184 $23,985
Avg Grant Aid $10,065 $14,678
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 84%

Admission

Cal Poly UConn
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,774 40,894
Admitted 17,885 22,293
Acceptance Rate 30.4% 54.5%
Enrolled % 28.6% 18.3%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.74
Typical High School Grades A/A+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range 26/32 28/33
SAT Range 1220/1410 1220/1440
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2023 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Cal Poly UConn
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Cal Poly UConn
Graduation Rate 75% 83%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,400 $62,000
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,666 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $193 $222

Diversity

Cal Poly UConn
% Men 51% 47%
% Women 49% 53%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 57% 61%
% Black 1% 5%
% Hispanic 16% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 3%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 5% 7%

Students

Cal Poly UConn
% In-State 83% 60%
% Out-of-State 16% 34%

Campus

Cal Poly UConn
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 Connecticut is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (27,003 students vs. 22,000 students)

Cal Poly vs. UConn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UConn?

  • University of Connecticut is 172.9% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($15,672.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 117.6% higher at UConn than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($38,340.00 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 UConn ($19,184 vs. $23,985)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 20.8% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($13,622 vs. $16,449)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Connecticut than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (84% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Connecticut students is 45.8% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($14,678 vs. $10,065)

Cal Poly vs. UConn Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or UConn? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UConn or Cal Poly .

  • The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 9 points higher than at UConn (1250)
  • Incoming Cal Poly students have at the same average ACT score (29) as students at UConn (29)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UConn (3.74)
  • UConn has a higher acceptance rate (54.5%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)

Cal Poly vs. UConn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal Poly or UConn? 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 UConn and Cal Poly.

  • The graduation rate at UConn is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (83% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $7,400 more per year than UConn graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $62,000)
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $2,834 lower median federal student loan debt than UConn graduates. ($18,666 vs. $21,500)
  • Cal Poly graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than UConn graduates. ($193 vs. $222)
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UConn 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/