Cal Poly vs. Michigan

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

Cal Poly Michigan
Location San Luis Obispo, CA Ann Arbor, MI
Setting Small Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 22,000 51,225
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #155 #50
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calpoly.edu umich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal Poly Michigan
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $16,404
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $55,002
Room & Board $16,449 $13,171
Avg Net Price $19,184 $19,318
Avg Grant Aid $10,065 $15,121
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 67%

Admission

Cal Poly Michigan
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,774 84,289
Admitted 17,885 14,914
Acceptance Rate 30.4% 17.7%
Enrolled % 28.6% 47.3%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.88
Typical High School Grades A/A+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition High Very High
ACT Range 26/32 31/34
SAT Range 1220/1410 1350/1530
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 Feb 1, 2024

Academics

Cal Poly Michigan
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Engineering (15%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

Cal Poly Michigan
Graduation Rate 75% 90%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,400 $74,400
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,666 $20,103
Median Loan Payment $193 $207

Diversity

Cal Poly Michigan
% Men 51% 48%
% Women 49% 52%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 57% 62%
% Black 1% 4%
% Hispanic 16% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 3%
% International 2% 7%
% Unknown Race 5% 6%

Students

Cal Poly Michigan
% In-State 83% 51%
% Out-of-State 16% 44%

Campus

Cal Poly Michigan
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 Michigan is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (51,225 students vs. 22,000 students)

Cal Poly vs. Michigan Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Michigan?

  • University of Michigan is 185.7% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($16,404.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 212.1% higher at Michigan than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($55,002.00 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 Michigan ($19,184 vs. $19,318)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan are 24.9% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($13,171 vs. $16,449)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Michigan than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (67% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan students is 50.2% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($15,121 vs. $10,065)

Cal Poly vs. Michigan Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Michigan (1384) is 125 points higher than at Cal Poly (1259)
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Cal Poly (29)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Michigan (3.88)
  • Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (30.4%) than Michigan (17.7%)

Cal Poly vs. Michigan Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Michigan is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (90% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from University of Michigan earn on average $5,000 more per year than Cal Poly graduates after ten years. ($74,400 vs. $69,400)
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $1,437 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan graduates. ($18,666 vs. $20,103)
  • Cal Poly graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan graduates. ($193 vs. $207)
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan 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/