Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
U of A | Cal Poly | ||
| Location | Tucson, AZ | San Luis Obispo, CA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 53,001 | 22,485 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #269 | #146 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | arizona.edu | calpoly.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
U of A | Cal Poly | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,871 | $5,742 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,340 | $17,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,400 | $17,220 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,144 | $16,888 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $16,511 | $12,707 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 48% |
Admission |
U of A | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 56,466 | 63,736 | ||
| Admitted | 48,369 | 18,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 85.7% | 29.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.9% | 27.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.48 | 4.0 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A/A+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 21/30 | 26/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1160/1420 | 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, 2024 |
Academics |
U of A | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
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 | 10% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 2% | ||
| 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 | 50% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 44% | 14% | ||
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 (53,001 students vs. 22,485 students)
U of A vs. Cal Poly Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, U of A or Cal Poly?
- University of Arizona is 106.7% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($11,871.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 123.2% higher at U of A than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($39,340.00 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 U of A ($16,888 vs. $18,144)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arizona are 19.6% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($14,400 vs. $17,220)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Arizona than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (97% vs. 48%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arizona students is 29.9% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($16,511 vs. $12,707)
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 (85.7%) than Cal Poly (29.8%)
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/