Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Loyola Marymount Caltech UCSB San Diego State UCSC Chapman USD UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | Pepperdine University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cal Poly | Pepperdine | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Malibu, CA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 22,000 | 10,030 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #155 | #127 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Churches of Christ | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | pepperdine.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | Pepperdine | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $62,390 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $62,390 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,449 | $18,560 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,184 | $47,804 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,065 | $32,348 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 94% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | Pepperdine | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,774 | 11,466 | ||
| Admitted | 17,885 | 5,585 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 48.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 16.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.74 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 28/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1285/1480 | ||
| 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 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | Pepperdine | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 13:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Cal Poly | Pepperdine | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $71,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 75% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $268 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | Pepperdine | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 67% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 47% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 16% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 5% | ||
| % International | 2% | 10% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 4% |
Students |
Cal Poly | Pepperdine | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 45% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 43% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | Pepperdine | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than Pepperdine based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 10,030 students)
Cal Poly vs. Pepperdine Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Pepperdine?
- Pepperdine University is 986.6% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($62,390.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 254% higher at Pepperdine than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($62,390.00 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 Pepperdine ($19,184 vs. $47,804)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 12.8% lower than costs at Pepperdine University ($16,449 vs. $18,560)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pepperdine University than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (94% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pepperdine University students is 221.4% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($32,348 vs. $10,065)
Cal Poly vs. Pepperdine Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or Pepperdine? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Pepperdine or Cal Poly .
- The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 33 points higher than at Pepperdine (1226)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Pepperdine (28)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Pepperdine (3.74)
- Pepperdine has a higher acceptance rate (48.7%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)
Cal Poly vs. Pepperdine Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or Pepperdine? 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 Pepperdine and Cal Poly.
- The graduation rate at Pepperdine is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (81% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Pepperdine University earn on average $2,300 more per year than Cal Poly graduates after ten years. ($71,700 vs. $69,400)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $7,334 lower median federal student loan debt than Pepperdine graduates. ($18,666 vs. $26,000)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $75 less per month on federal student loans than Pepperdine graduates. ($193 vs. $268)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pepperdine students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 75%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/