Cal Poly vs. Maryland

Should I go to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo or University of Maryland College Park? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal Poly or Maryland 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 Maryland College Park comparison
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo University of Maryland College Park College 3 College 4
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo University of Maryland College Park
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Overview

Cal Poly Maryland
Location San Luis Obispo, CA College Park, MD
Setting Small Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 22,000 40,792
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #155 #95
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calpoly.edu umd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal Poly Maryland
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $9,695
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $37,931
Room & Board $16,449 $14,576
Avg Net Price $19,184 $16,210
Avg Grant Aid $10,065 $11,232
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 48%

Admission

Cal Poly Maryland
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,774 56,761
Admitted 17,885 25,320
Acceptance Rate 30.4% 44.6%
Enrolled % 28.6% 23.1%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.84
Typical High School Grades A/A+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range 26/32 30/34
SAT Range 1220/1410 1360/1520
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

Academics

Cal Poly Maryland
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Cal Poly Maryland
Graduation Rate 75% 82%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,400 $68,300
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,666 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $193 $201

Diversity

Cal Poly Maryland
% Men 51% 51%
% Women 49% 49%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 52%
% Black 1% 13%
% Hispanic 16% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 4%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

Cal Poly Maryland
% In-State 83% 72%
% Out-of-State 16% 26%

Campus

Cal Poly Maryland
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 Maryland College Park is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (40,792 students vs. 22,000 students)

Cal Poly vs. Maryland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Maryland?

  • University of Maryland College Park is 68.8% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($9,695.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 115.2% higher at Maryland than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($37,931.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland College Park than Cal Poly ($16,210 vs. $19,184)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland College Park are 12.8% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($14,576 vs. $16,449)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Maryland College Park than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (48% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Maryland College Park students is 11.6% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($11,232 vs. $10,065)

Cal Poly vs. Maryland Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Maryland College Park (1315) is 56 points higher than at Cal Poly (1259)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Maryland (3.84)
  • Maryland has a higher acceptance rate (44.6%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)

Cal Poly vs. Maryland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Maryland is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (82% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $1,100 more per year than Maryland graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $68,300)
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $834 lower median federal student loan debt than Maryland graduates. ($18,666 vs. $19,500)
  • Cal Poly graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than Maryland graduates. ($193 vs. $201)
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Maryland students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/