Cal Poly vs. Oxy

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

Cal Poly Oxy
Location San Luis Obispo, CA Los Angeles, CA
Setting Small Suburban Large City
Enrollment 22,000 1,942
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #155 #72
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calpoly.edu oxy.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal Poly Oxy
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $59,970
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $59,970
Room & Board $16,449 $17,330
Avg Net Price $19,184 $44,853
Avg Grant Aid $10,065 $33,025
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 76%

Admission

Cal Poly Oxy
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,774 6,305
Admitted 17,885 2,484
Acceptance Rate 30.4% 39.4%
Enrolled % 28.6% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.63
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition High High
ACT Range 26/32 31/34
SAT Range 1220/1410 1370/1510
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 Jan 10, 2025

Academics

Cal Poly Oxy
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Social Sciences (32%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Foreign Languages (6%)

Outcomes

Cal Poly Oxy
Graduation Rate 75% 83%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,400 $56,600
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,666 $23,652
Median Loan Payment $193 $244

Diversity

Cal Poly Oxy
% Men 51% 41%
% Women 49% 59%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 49%
% Black 1% 5%
% Hispanic 16% 16%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 9%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

Cal Poly Oxy
% In-State 83% 34%
% Out-of-State 16% 61%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than Oxy based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 1,942 students)

Cal Poly vs. Oxy Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Oxy?

  • Occidental College is 944.4% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($59,970.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 240.3% higher at Oxy than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($59,970.00 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 Oxy ($19,184 vs. $44,853)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 5.4% lower than costs at Occidental College ($16,449 vs. $17,330)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Occidental College than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (76% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Occidental College students is 228.1% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($33,025 vs. $10,065)

Cal Poly vs. Oxy Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Occidental College (1304) is 45 points higher than at Cal Poly (1259)
  • Incoming Oxy students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Cal Poly (29)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Oxy (3.63)
  • Oxy has a higher acceptance rate (39.4%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)

Cal Poly vs. Oxy Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Oxy is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (83% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $12,800 more per year than Oxy graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $56,600)
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $4,986 lower median federal student loan debt than Oxy graduates. ($18,666 vs. $23,652)
  • Cal Poly graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Oxy graduates. ($193 vs. $244)
  • More Oxy graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal Poly students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 85%)

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