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Caltech UCSB San Diego State UCSC Colorado State UW UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona UCI| Montana State University | California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
MSU | Cal Poly | ||
| Location | Bozeman, MT | San Luis Obispo, CA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 16,960 | 22,485 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #658 | #146 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | montana.edu | calpoly.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
MSU | Cal Poly | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $6,056 | $5,742 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,047 | $17,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,446 | $17,220 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,511 | $16,888 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,967 | $12,707 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 85% | 48% |
Admission |
MSU | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 21,975 | 63,736 | ||
| Admitted | 19,081 | 18,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.8% | 29.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19% | 27.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.5 | 4.0 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A/A+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 20/27 | 26/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1060/1270 | 1220/1410 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2025 |
Academics |
MSU | Cal Poly | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
MSU | Cal Poly | ||
| Graduation Rate | 51% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,800 | $69,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 85% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $18,666 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $193 |
Diversity |
MSU | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 7% | 2% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 86% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 16% | ||
| % Native American | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 7% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
MSU | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 36% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 64% | 14% | ||
Campus |
MSU | Cal Poly | ||
| 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
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (22,485 students vs. 16,960 students)
MSU vs. Cal Poly Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, MSU or Cal Poly?
- Montana State University is 5.5% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($6,056.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 64.8% higher at MSU than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($29,047.00 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 MSU ($16,888 vs. $18,511)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 28.1% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($13,446 vs. $17,220)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (85% vs. 48%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 27.5% larger than aid received Montana State University ($12,707 vs. $9,967)
MSU vs. Cal Poly Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, MSU or Cal Poly? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cal Poly or MSU .
- The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 128 points higher than at MSU (1131)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at MSU (25)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at MSU (3.5)
- MSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than Cal Poly (29.8%)
MSU vs. Cal Poly Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, MSU or Cal Poly? 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 Cal Poly and MSU.
- The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than Montana State University (75% vs. 51%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $23,600 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $45,800)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $5,334 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($18,666 vs. $24,000)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($193 vs. $248)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 71%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/