Cal Poly vs. Clemson

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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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo vs. Clemson University comparison
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Clemson University College 3 College 4
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Clemson University
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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
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
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
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

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
% 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
% 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

Comparable Facts

  • Clemson University is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (28,466 students vs. 22,000 students)

Cal Poly vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Clemson?

  • Clemson University is 145.9% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($14,118.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 116% higher at Clemson than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($38,062.00 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 Clemson ($19,184 vs. $24,577)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 33.2% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($12,350 vs. $16,449)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clemson University than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (79% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clemson University students is 3.6% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($10,430 vs. $10,065)

Cal Poly vs. Clemson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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 .

  • The average SAT score at Clemson University (1275) is 16 points higher than at Cal Poly (1259)
  • Incoming Cal Poly students have at the same average ACT score (29) as students at Clemson (29)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Clemson (3.75)
  • Clemson has a higher acceptance rate (43%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)

Cal Poly vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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.

  • The graduation rate at Clemson is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (80% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $12,300 more per year than Clemson graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $57,100)
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $2,834 lower median federal student loan debt than Clemson graduates. ($18,666 vs. $21,500)
  • Cal Poly graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Clemson graduates. ($193 vs. $222)
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clemson students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 78%)

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