Cal Poly vs. PLNU

Should I go to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo or Point Loma Nazarene University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal Poly or PLNU 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. Point Loma Nazarene University comparison
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Point Loma Nazarene University College 3 College 4
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Point Loma Nazarene University
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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
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
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

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/