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Stanford UCSB San Diego State UCSC UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona UCI MIT HMC| California Institute of Technology | California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Caltech | Cal Poly | ||
| Location | Pasadena, CA | San Luis Obispo, CA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 2,401 | 22,000 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #5 | #155 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | caltech.edu | calpoly.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Caltech | Cal Poly | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $58,479 | $5,742 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $58,479 | $17,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,606 | $16,449 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,755 | $19,184 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $59,192 | $10,065 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 57% | 42% |
Admission |
Caltech | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 16,626 | 58,774 | ||
| Admitted | 448 | 17,885 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 2.7% | 30.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 50% | 28.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.97 | 4.0 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A/A+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | High | ||
| ACT Range | 35/36 | 26/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1530/1580 | 1220/1410 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 3, 2025 | Nov 30, 2024 |
Academics |
Caltech | Cal Poly | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 3:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Caltech | Cal Poly | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $85,800 | $69,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | - | 85% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $14,350 | $18,666 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $148 | $193 |
Diversity |
Caltech | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 61% | 51% | ||
| % Women | 39% | 49% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 27% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 16% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 7% | ||
| % International | 8% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 5% |
Students |
Caltech | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 29% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 58% | 16% | ||
Campus |
Caltech | 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 Caltech based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 2,401 students)
Caltech vs. Cal Poly Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Caltech or Cal Poly?
- California Institute of Technology is 918.4% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($58,479.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 231.9% higher at Caltech than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($58,479.00 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 Caltech ($19,184 vs. $20,755)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 13.1% lower than costs at California Institute of Technology ($16,449 vs. $18,606)
- More students receive financial grant aid at California Institute of Technology than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (57% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of Technology students is 488.1% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($59,192 vs. $10,065)
Caltech vs. Cal Poly Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Caltech or Cal Poly? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cal Poly or Caltech .
- The average SAT score at California Institute of Technology (1544) is 285 points higher than at Cal Poly (1259)
- Incoming Caltech students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (35) than students at Cal Poly (29)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Caltech (3.97)
- Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (30.4%) than Caltech (2.7%)
Caltech vs. Cal Poly Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Caltech 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 Caltech.
- The graduation rate at Caltech is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (87% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from California Institute of Technology earn on average $16,400 more per year than Cal Poly graduates after ten years. ($85,800 vs. $69,400)
- California Institute of Technology students graduate with a $4,316 lower median federal student loan debt than Cal Poly graduates. ($14,350 vs. $18,666)
- Caltech graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than Cal Poly graduates. ($148 vs. $193)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/