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UConn UVM Caltech Penn State UCSB San Diego State UCSC Rutgers UMass Dartmouth BU UD University of Massachusetts-Lowell| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | University of Massachusetts Amherst | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Cal Poly | UMass | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Amherst, MA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Town Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 22,000 | 32,229 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #155 | #176 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | umass.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | UMass | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $16,186 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $37,405 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,449 | $14,123 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,184 | $22,291 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,065 | $12,350 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 85% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | UMass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,774 | 45,451 | ||
| Admitted | 17,885 | 28,871 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 63.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.99 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 29/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1260/1480 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2024 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | UMass | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Cal Poly | UMass | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 67% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $55,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $248 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | UMass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 49% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 51% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 8% |
Students |
Cal Poly | UMass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 65% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 24% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | UMass | ||
| 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 Massachusetts Amherst is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (32,229 students vs. 22,000 students)
Cal Poly vs. UMass Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UMass?
- University of Massachusetts Amherst is 181.9% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($16,186.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 112.3% higher at UMass than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($37,405.00 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 UMass ($19,184 vs. $22,291)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 16.5% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($14,123 vs. $16,449)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (85% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students is 22.7% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($12,350 vs. $10,065)
Cal Poly vs. UMass Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or UMass? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UMass or Cal Poly .
- The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 33 points higher than at UMass (1226)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at UMass (28)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UMass (3.99)
- UMass has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)
Cal Poly vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or UMass? 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 UMass and Cal Poly.
- The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst (75% vs. 67%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $14,200 more per year than UMass graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $55,200)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $5,334 lower median federal student loan debt than UMass graduates. ($18,666 vs. $24,000)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than UMass graduates. ($193 vs. $248)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/