Should I go to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo or Clemson University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal Poly or Clemson 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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UofSC Georgia NC State Caltech Auburn UCSB Virginia Tech Florida San Diego State UCSC Tennessee CofCCalifornia Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | Clemson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Clemson, SC | ||
Setting | Small Suburban | Distant Town | ||
Enrollment | 22,000 | 28,466 | ||
Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
National Ranking | #155 | #133 | ||
Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
Website | calpoly.edu | clemson.edu | ||
Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $14,118 | ||
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Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $38,062 | ||
Room & Board | $16,449 | $12,350 | ||
Avg Net Price | $19,184 | $24,577 | ||
Avg Grant Aid | $10,065 | $10,430 | ||
% Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 79% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
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Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
Applied | 58,774 | 52,819 | ||
Admitted | 17,885 | 22,704 | ||
Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 43% | ||
Enrolled % | 28.6% | 20.2% | ||
Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.75 | ||
Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | A- | ||
Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
ACT Range | 26/32 | 28/32 | ||
SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1220/1410 | ||
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 | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
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Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 16:1 | ||
Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
Graduation Rate | 75% | 80% | ||
Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $57,100 | ||
Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 78% | ||
Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $21,500 | ||
Median Loan Payment | $193 | $222 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
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% Men | 51% | 48% | ||
% Women | 49% | 52% | ||
Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
HBCU | No | No | ||
% White | 57% | 83% | ||
% Black | 1% | 7% | ||
% Hispanic | 16% | 3% | ||
% Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
% Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
% Two or More Races | 7% | 3% | ||
% International | 2% | 1% | ||
% Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
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% In-State | 83% | 52% | ||
% Out-of-State | 16% | 46% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | Clemson | ||
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 |
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Clemson?
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or Clemson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Clemson or Cal Poly .
Which is better, Cal Poly or Clemson? 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 Clemson and Cal Poly.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/