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Clemson Caltech Georgia CofC UCSB Virginia Tech NC State San Diego State Auburn UCSC Florida State UCSD| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | University of South Carolina Columbia | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Cal Poly | UofSC | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Columbia, SC | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,000 | 35,653 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #155 | #208 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | sc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | UofSC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $12,288 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $33,528 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,449 | $11,780 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,184 | $22,427 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,065 | $6,880 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 98% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | UofSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,774 | 42,188 | ||
| Admitted | 17,885 | 27,022 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 64.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 24.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.69 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1180/1380 | ||
| 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 | Dec 1, 2023 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | UofSC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Cal Poly | UofSC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 70% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $51,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $240 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | UofSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
Cal Poly | UofSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 52% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 47% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | UofSC | ||
| 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 South Carolina Columbia is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (35,653 students vs. 22,000 students)
Cal Poly vs. UofSC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UofSC?
- University of South Carolina Columbia is 114% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($12,288.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 90.3% higher at UofSC than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($33,528.00 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 UofSC ($19,184 vs. $22,427)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 39.6% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($11,780 vs. $16,449)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (98% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 46.3% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Columbia ($10,065 vs. $6,880)
Cal Poly vs. UofSC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or UofSC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UofSC or Cal Poly .
- The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 39 points higher than at UofSC (1220)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at UofSC (28)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UofSC (3.69)
- UofSC has a higher acceptance rate (64.1%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)
Cal Poly vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or UofSC? 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 UofSC and Cal Poly.
- The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than University of South Carolina Columbia (75% vs. 70%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $17,700 more per year than UofSC graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $51,700)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $4,584 lower median federal student loan debt than UofSC graduates. ($18,666 vs. $23,250)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than UofSC graduates. ($193 vs. $240)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UofSC students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/