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Caltech UCSB San Diego State UCSC Loyola Marymount UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona SCU UCI| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | Occidental College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Cal Poly | Oxy | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Los Angeles, CA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,485 | 1,854 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #146 | #78 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | oxy.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | Oxy | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $62,850 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $62,850 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,220 | $18,284 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,888 | $47,113 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,707 | $33,523 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 48% | 78% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | Oxy | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 63,736 | 6,573 | ||
| Admitted | 18,964 | 2,622 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 29.8% | 39.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.8% | 20.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.63 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 31/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1360/1500 | ||
| 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 | Jan 10, 2026 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | Oxy | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 9:1 | ||
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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 | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 0% | ||
| 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 | 86% | 36% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 14% | 56% | ||
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 (22,485 students vs. 1,854 students)
Cal Poly vs. Oxy Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Oxy?
- Occidental College is 994.6% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($62,850.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 256.7% higher at Oxy than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($62,850.00 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 ($16,888 vs. $47,113)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 6.2% lower than costs at Occidental College ($17,220 vs. $18,284)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Occidental College than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (78% vs. 48%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Occidental College students is 163.8% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($33,523 vs. $12,707)
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 (39.9%) than Cal Poly (29.8%)
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/