Cal Poly vs. Chapman

Should I go to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo or Chapman University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal Poly or Chapman is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo vs. Chapman University comparison
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Chapman University College 3 College 4
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Chapman University
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Overview

Cal Poly Chapman
Location San Luis Obispo, CA Orange, CA
Setting Small Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 22,000 10,014
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #155 #111
Religious Affiliation - Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calpoly.edu chapman.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal Poly Chapman
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $60,288
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $60,288
Room & Board $16,449 $16,954
Avg Net Price $19,184 $45,033
Avg Grant Aid $10,065 $33,510
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 87%

Admission

Cal Poly Chapman
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,774 13,690
Admitted 17,885 9,928
Acceptance Rate 30.4% 72.5%
Enrolled % 28.6% 20.9%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.7
Typical High School Grades A/A+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range 26/32 26/31
SAT Range 1220/1410 1200/1400
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2024 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Cal Poly Chapman
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (27%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Communication (18%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

Cal Poly Chapman
Graduation Rate 75% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,400 $54,100
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,666 $20,938
Median Loan Payment $193 $216

Diversity

Cal Poly Chapman
% Men 51% 39%
% Women 49% 61%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 58%
% Black 1% 1%
% Hispanic 16% 14%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 6%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 4%

Students

Cal Poly Chapman
% In-State 83% 60%
% Out-of-State 16% 36%

Campus

Cal Poly Chapman
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than Chapman based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 10,014 students)

Cal Poly vs. Chapman Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Chapman?

  • Chapman University is 949.9% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($60,288.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 242.1% higher at Chapman than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($60,288.00 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 Chapman ($19,184 vs. $45,033)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 3.1% lower than costs at Chapman University ($16,449 vs. $16,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Chapman University than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (87% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chapman University students is 232.9% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($33,510 vs. $10,065)

Cal Poly vs. Chapman Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or Chapman? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Chapman or Cal Poly .

  • The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 42 points higher than at Chapman (1217)
  • Incoming Cal Poly students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Chapman (28)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Chapman (3.7)
  • Chapman has a higher acceptance rate (72.5%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)

Cal Poly vs. Chapman Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal Poly or Chapman? 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 Chapman and Cal Poly.

  • The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than Chapman University (75% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $15,300 more per year than Chapman graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $54,100)
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $2,272 lower median federal student loan debt than Chapman graduates. ($18,666 vs. $20,938)
  • Cal Poly graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Chapman graduates. ($193 vs. $216)
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chapman students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/