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ASU Caltech UCSB San Diego State UCSC UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona UCI Colorado School of Mines| University of Arizona | California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
U of A | Cal Poly | ||
| Location | Tucson, AZ | San Luis Obispo, CA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 49,403 | 22,000 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #294 | #155 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | arizona.edu | calpoly.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
U of A | Cal Poly | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,525 | $5,742 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $37,827 | $17,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,650 | $16,449 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,075 | $19,184 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,279 | $10,065 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 42% |
Admission |
U of A | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 52,091 | 58,774 | ||
| Admitted | 45,194 | 17,885 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.8% | 30.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20% | 28.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.48 | 4.0 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A/A+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 21/29 | 26/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1140/1370 | 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, 2023 |
Academics |
U of A | Cal Poly | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
U of A | Cal Poly | ||
| Graduation Rate | 61% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,000 | $69,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 85% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,000 | $18,666 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $196 | $193 |
Diversity |
U of A | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 51% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 49% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 52% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 25% | 16% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 7% | ||
| % International | 6% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
U of A | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 47% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 48% | 16% | ||
Campus |
U of A | Cal Poly | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Arizona is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (49,403 students vs. 22,000 students)
U of A vs. Cal Poly Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, U of A or Cal Poly?
- University of Arizona is 100.7% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($11,525.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 114.7% higher at U of A than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($37,827.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Arizona than Cal Poly ($17,075 vs. $19,184)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arizona are 20.5% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($13,650 vs. $16,449)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Arizona than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (98% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arizona students is 51.8% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($15,279 vs. $10,065)
U of A vs. Cal Poly Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, U of A or Cal Poly? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cal Poly or U of A .
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at U of A (3.48)
- U of A has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)
U of A vs. Cal Poly Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, U of A 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 U of A.
- The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than University of Arizona (75% vs. 61%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $15,400 more per year than U of A graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $54,000)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $334 lower median federal student loan debt than U of A graduates. ($18,666 vs. $19,000)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than U of A graduates. ($193 vs. $196)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former U of A students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 66%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/