Cal Poly vs. Hunter

Comparable Facts

Compare California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, CA with CUNY Hunter 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 Hunter based on total student enrollment (23,069 students vs. 22,538 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 Hunter 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 Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

Cal Poly vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Hunter? 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 Hunter College than Cal Poly ($4,431 vs. $17,453).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 37% lower than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($11,832 vs. $18,792).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is 84.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $6,214 more per year; $13,596.00 vs. $7,382.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 126.1% higher at Cal Poly than at CUNY Hunter College (about $19,333 more per year; $34,665.00 vs. $15,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (87% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 47% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($14,338 vs. $9,755).

Cal Poly vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or Hunter? 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 Hunter and Cal Poly.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1320) is 60 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
• 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; Hunter - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Hunter (3.7).
• Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

Cal Poly vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and Hunter? 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 Hunter College's (46%).
• Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $20,600 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $7,118 lower median loan debt than Cal Poly graduates ($11,548 vs. $18,666).
• Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal Poly graduates ($119 vs. $193).
• More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 56%)

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.