Should I go to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo or John Paul the Great Catholic University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal Poly or John Paul the Great Catholic University 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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Caltech UCSB San Diego State UCSC UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona UCI Colorado School of Mines UC Merced| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | John Paul the Great Catholic University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Cal Poly | John Paul the Great Catholic University | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | San Diego, CA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,485 | 298 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #146 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | jpcatholic.com | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | John Paul the Great Catholic University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $28,500 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $28,500 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,220 | $15,099 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,888 | $31,811 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,707 | $15,709 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 48% | 98% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | John Paul the Great Catholic University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 63,736 | 280 | ||
| Admitted | 18,964 | 222 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 29.8% | 79.3%Open | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.8% | 33.8%Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.56 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1090/1260 | ||
| 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, 2025 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | John Paul the Great Catholic University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Cal Poly | John Paul the Great Catholic University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | - | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $25,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $266 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | John Paul the Great Catholic University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 54% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 23% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 12% |
Students |
Cal Poly | John Paul the Great Catholic University | ||
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| % In-State | 86% | 49% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 14% | 43% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | John Paul the Great Catholic University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or John Paul the Great Catholic University?
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or John Paul the Great Catholic University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between John Paul the Great Catholic University or Cal Poly .
Which is better, Cal Poly or John Paul the Great Catholic University? 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 John Paul the Great Catholic University and Cal Poly.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/