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Tennessee Caltech Florida State Clemson UCSB Alabama San Diego State UofSC UCSC Georgia UCSD UC Davis| Auburn University | California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Auburn | Cal Poly | ||
| Location | Auburn University, AL | San Luis Obispo, CA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 31,764 | 22,000 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #307 | #155 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | auburn.edu | calpoly.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Auburn | Cal Poly | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,392 | $5,742 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,176 | $17,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,998 | $16,449 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $25,271 | $19,184 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,791 | $10,065 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 74% | 42% |
Admission |
Auburn | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 45,693 | 58,774 | ||
| Admitted | 19,988 | 17,885 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 43.7% | 30.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 26.5% | 28.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.97 | 4.0 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A/A+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | ||
| ACT Range | 24/30 | 26/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1380 | 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 | Feb 1, 2025 | Nov 30, 2024 |
Academics |
Auburn | Cal Poly | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Auburn | Cal Poly | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,100 | $69,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 85% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $18,666 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $193 |
Diversity |
Auburn | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 49% | 51% | ||
| % Women | 51% | 49% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 84% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 16% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 7% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
Auburn | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 41% | 16% | ||
Campus |
Auburn | Cal Poly | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Auburn University is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (31,764 students vs. 22,000 students)
Auburn vs. Cal Poly Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Auburn or Cal Poly?
- Auburn University is 81% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($10,392.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 76.9% higher at Auburn than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($31,176.00 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 Auburn ($19,184 vs. $25,271)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Auburn University are 9.7% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($14,998 vs. $16,449)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Auburn University than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (74% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 2.8% larger than aid received Auburn University ($10,065 vs. $9,791)
Auburn vs. Cal Poly Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Auburn or Cal Poly? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cal Poly or Auburn .
- The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 41 points higher than at Auburn (1218)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Auburn (27)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Auburn (3.97)
- Auburn has a higher acceptance rate (43.7%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)
Auburn vs. Cal Poly Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Auburn 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 Auburn.
- The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than Auburn University (75% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $15,300 more per year than Auburn graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $54,100)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $2,834 lower median federal student loan debt than Auburn graduates. ($18,666 vs. $21,500)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Auburn graduates. ($193 vs. $222)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Auburn students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 73%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/