Cal Poly vs. DUofC

Should I go to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo or Dominican University of California? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal Poly or DUofC 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. Dominican University of California comparison
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Dominican University of California College 3 College 4
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Dominican University of California
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Overview

Cal Poly DUofC
Location San Luis Obispo, CA San Rafael, CA
Setting Small Suburban Small City
Enrollment 22,000 1,877
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #155 #407
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calpoly.edu dominican.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal Poly DUofC
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $48,606
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $48,606
Room & Board $16,449 $15,489
Avg Net Price $19,184 $49,907
Avg Grant Aid $10,065 $17,194
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 91%

Admission

Cal Poly DUofC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,774 1,746
Admitted 17,885 1,627
Acceptance Rate 30.4% 93.2%
Enrolled % 28.6% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.66
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Moderate
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 26/32 23/25
SAT Range 1220/1410 1088/1236
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

Academics

Cal Poly DUofC
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Health Professions (35%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)

Outcomes

Cal Poly DUofC
Graduation Rate 75% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,400 $58,400
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,666 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $193 $279

Diversity

Cal Poly DUofC
% Men 51% 28%
% Women 49% 72%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 37%
% Black 1% 5%
% Hispanic 16% 20%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 7% 6%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 6%

Students

Cal Poly DUofC
% In-State 83% 76%
% Out-of-State 16% 22%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than DUofC based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 1,877 students)

Cal Poly vs. DUofC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or DUofC?

  • Dominican University of California is 746.5% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($48,606.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 175.8% higher at DUofC than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($48,606.00 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 DUofC ($19,184 vs. $49,907)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dominican University of California are 6.2% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($15,489 vs. $16,449)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Dominican University of California than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (91% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dominican University of California students is 70.8% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($17,194 vs. $10,065)

Cal Poly vs. DUofC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 205 points higher than at DUofC (1054)
  • Incoming Cal Poly students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at DUofC (23)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at DUofC (3.66)
  • DUofC has a higher acceptance rate (93.2%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)

Cal Poly vs. DUofC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than Dominican University of California (75% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $11,000 more per year than DUofC graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $58,400)
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $8,334 lower median federal student loan debt than DUofC graduates. ($18,666 vs. $27,000)
  • Cal Poly graduates are paying $86 less per month on federal student loans than DUofC graduates. ($193 vs. $279)
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DUofC students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 71%)

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