Cal Poly vs. Baruch

Comparable Facts

Compare California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, CA with CUNY Bernard M Baruch College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than Baruch based on total student enrollment (23,069 students vs. 20,081 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Small Suburban setting); CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; CUNY Bernard M Baruch College 19:1.

Cal Poly vs. Baruch Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Baruch? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College than Cal Poly ($4,326 vs. $17,453).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 0.2% lower than at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ($18,792 vs. $18,832).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is 82.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Baruch (about $6,132 more per year; $13,596.00 vs. $7,464.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 124.9% higher at Cal Poly than at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College (about $19,251 more per year; $34,665.00 vs. $15,414.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (89% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 41.8% larger than aid received by CUNY Bernard M Baruch College students ($14,338 vs. $10,114).

Cal Poly vs. Baruch Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or Baruch? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Baruch and Cal Poly.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1320) is 70 points higher than at Baruch (1250).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; CUNY Bernard M Baruch College 1100/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; Baruch - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; Baruch Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Baruch (3.7).
• Baruch has a higher acceptance rate (47.5%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 19% at Baruch.

Cal Poly vs. Baruch Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and Baruch? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than CUNY Bernard M Baruch College's (63%).
• Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than Baruch graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $61,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College graduates have a $7,866 lower median loan debt than Cal Poly graduates ($10,800 vs. $18,666).
• Among borrowers, Baruch graduates have an estimated $82 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal Poly graduates ($111 vs. $193).
• More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Baruch students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.