Cal Poly vs. Mills College

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

Cal Poly Mills College
Location San Luis Obispo, CA Oakland, CA
Setting Small Suburban Large City
Enrollment 22,485 658
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #146
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calpoly.edu mills.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal Poly Mills College
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $62,000
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $62,000
Room & Board $17,220 $18,790
Avg Net Price $16,888 -
Avg Grant Aid $12,707 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 0%

Admission

Cal Poly Mills College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 63,736 17,177
Admitted 18,964 2,841
Acceptance Rate 29.8% 16.5%
Enrolled % 27.8% 17.1%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.57
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition High Very High
ACT Range 26/32 31/33
SAT Range 1220/1410 1390/1520
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 Mills College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • English and Literature (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Ethnic Studies (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

Cal Poly Mills College
Graduation Rate 75% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,400 $44,400
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,666 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $193 $242

Diversity

Cal Poly Mills College
% Men 2% 10%
% Women 2% 8%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 48%
% Black 1% 7%
% Hispanic 16% 24%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 10%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

Cal Poly Mills College
% In-State 86% 75%
% Out-of-State 14% 22%

Campus

Cal Poly Mills College
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

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than Mills College based on total student enrollment (22,485 students vs. 658 students)

Cal Poly vs. Mills College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Mills College?

  • Mills College is 979.8% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($62,000.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 251.8% higher at Mills College than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($62,000.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 9.1% lower than costs at Mills College ($17,220 vs. $18,790)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than Mills College (48% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is ?% larger than aid received Mills College ($12,707 vs. $0)

Cal Poly vs. Mills College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 76 points higher than at Mills College (1183)
  • Incoming Cal Poly students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Mills College (27)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Mills College (3.57)
  • Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (29.8%) than Mills College (16.5%)

Cal Poly vs. Mills College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal Poly or Mills College? 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 Mills College and Cal Poly.

  • The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than Mills College (75% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $25,000 more per year than Mills College graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $44,400)
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $4,834 lower median federal student loan debt than Mills College graduates. ($18,666 vs. $23,500)
  • Cal Poly graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than Mills College graduates. ($193 vs. $242)
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mills College 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/