Cal Poly vs. NC State

Deciding between California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and North Carolina State University at Raleigh? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Setting
  • Cal Poly Small Suburban
  • NC State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal Poly 23,069
  • NC State 38,464
  • Type
  • Cal Poly Public 4 Year
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cal Poly #151
  • NC State #124
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cal Poly -
  • NC State -
  • Status
  • Cal Poly Non-profit
  • NC State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cal Poly
  • NC State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cal Poly $13,596
  • NC State $8,799
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cal Poly $34,665
  • NC State $32,847
  • Room & Board
  • Cal Poly $18,792
  • NC State $14,332
  • Average Net Price
  • Cal Poly $17,453
  • NC State $15,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly $14,338
  • NC State $11,675
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly 48%
  • NC State 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cal Poly 68,371
  • NC State 44,047
  • Admitted
  • Cal Poly 21,416
  • NC State 18,385
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cal Poly 31.3%
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Cal Poly 24.6%
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal Poly 1320
  • NC State 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal Poly 29
  • NC State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cal Poly 4.0
  • NC State 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cal Poly A/A+
  • NC State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cal Poly Very High
  • NC State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cal Poly High
  • NC State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cal Poly 26/32
  • NC State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Cal Poly 1220/1410
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cal Poly Test-free
  • NC State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cal Poly 19:1
  • NC State 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cal Poly
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Agriculture (15%)
    • Architecture (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cal Poly 75%
  • NC State 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cal Poly $69,400
  • NC State $57,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cal Poly 85%
  • NC State 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cal Poly $18,666
  • NC State $20,782
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cal Poly $193
  • NC State $214

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cal Poly 49%
  • NC State 50%
  • % Women
  • Cal Poly 51%
  • NC State 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cal Poly High
  • NC State Low
  • HBCU
  • Cal Poly No
  • NC State No
  • % White
  • Cal Poly 57%
  • NC State 74%
  • % Asian
  • Cal Poly 12%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Black
  • Cal Poly 1%
  • NC State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cal Poly 16%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Native American
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cal Poly 7%
  • NC State 4%
  • % International
  • Cal Poly 2%
  • NC State 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cal Poly 5%
  • NC State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cal Poly 83%
  • NC State 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cal Poly 17%
  • NC State 12%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • NC State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cal Poly No
  • NC State No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • NC State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cal Poly No
  • NC State No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • NC State No

Comparable Facts

Compare California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, CA with North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (38,464 students vs. 23,069 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); North Carolina State University at Raleigh is in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting).
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1.

Cal Poly vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or NC State? 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh than Cal Poly ($15,522 vs. $17,453).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 23.7% lower than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($14,332 vs. $18,792).
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is 54.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $4,797 more per year; $13,596.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at Cal Poly than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $1,818 more per year; $34,665.00 vs. $32,847.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (51% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 22.8% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($14,338 vs. $11,675).

Cal Poly vs. NC State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1390) is 70 points higher than at Cal Poly (1320).
  • Incoming NC State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Cal Poly).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; NC State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; NC State Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at NC State (3.83).
  • NC State has a higher acceptance rate (41.7%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 31.8% at NC State.

Cal Poly vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and NC State? 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh's (72%).
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $12,200 more per year than NC State graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $57,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates have a $2,116 lower median loan debt than NC State graduates ($18,666 vs. $20,782).
  • Among borrowers, Cal Poly graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NC State graduates ($193 vs. $214).
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 76%)

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.