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Caltech UCSB San Diego State UCSC UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona UCI Westmont College Biola University| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | Point Loma Nazarene University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Cal Poly | PLNU | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | San Diego, CA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,000 | 4,319 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #155 | #292 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Church of the Nazarene | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | pointloma.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | PLNU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $40,400 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $40,400 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,449 | $11,800 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,184 | $34,933 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,065 | $19,422 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 100% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | PLNU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,774 | 3,149 | ||
| Admitted | 17,885 | 2,580 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 81.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 26.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.65 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1170/1350 | ||
| 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 | Feb 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | PLNU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Cal Poly | PLNU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 72% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $53,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 79% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $258 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | PLNU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 34% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 66% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 23% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 7% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 2% |
Students |
Cal Poly | PLNU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 29% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | PLNU | ||
| 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 PLNU based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 4,319 students)
Cal Poly vs. PLNU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or PLNU?
- Point Loma Nazarene University is 603.6% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($40,400.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 129.3% higher at PLNU than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($40,400.00 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 PLNU ($19,184 vs. $34,933)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 39.4% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($11,800 vs. $16,449)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (100% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Point Loma Nazarene University students is 93% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($19,422 vs. $10,065)
Cal Poly vs. PLNU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or PLNU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLNU or Cal Poly .
- The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 111 points higher than at PLNU (1148)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at PLNU (26)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at PLNU (3.65)
- PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (81.9%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)
Cal Poly vs. PLNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or PLNU? 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 PLNU and Cal Poly.
- The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University (75% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $15,900 more per year than PLNU graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $53,500)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $6,334 lower median federal student loan debt than PLNU graduates. ($18,666 vs. $25,000)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $65 less per month on federal student loans than PLNU graduates. ($193 vs. $258)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLNU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 79%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/