Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
IU Caltech Virginia Tech Illinois UCSB San Diego State Rose-Hulman UCSC Wisconsin UT Austin Ohio State UCSD| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | Purdue University Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cal Poly | Purdue | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | West Lafayette, IN | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Midsize Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 22,000 | 51,528 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #155 | #101 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | purdue.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | Purdue | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $9,718 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $28,520 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,449 | $10,030 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,184 | $12,576 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,065 | $8,950 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 48% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | Purdue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,774 | 68,582 | ||
| Admitted | 17,885 | 36,146 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 52.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 26.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.67 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 27/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1200/1470 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2024 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | Purdue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 14:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Cal Poly | Purdue | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $61,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 78% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $222 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | Purdue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 58% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 42% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 17% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 2% |
Students |
Cal Poly | Purdue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 46% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 44% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | Purdue | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Purdue University Main Campus is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (51,528 students vs. 22,000 students)
Cal Poly vs. Purdue Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Purdue?
- Purdue University Main Campus is 69.2% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($9,718.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 61.8% higher at Purdue than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($28,520.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Main Campus than Cal Poly ($12,576 vs. $19,184)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 64% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($10,030 vs. $16,449)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Purdue University Main Campus than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (48% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 12.5% larger than aid received Purdue University Main Campus ($10,065 vs. $8,950)
Cal Poly vs. Purdue Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or Purdue? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue or Cal Poly .
- The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 28 points higher than at Purdue (1231)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Purdue (28)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Purdue (3.67)
- Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (52.7%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)
Cal Poly vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or Purdue? 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 Purdue and Cal Poly.
- The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than Purdue University Main Campus (75% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $8,200 more per year than Purdue graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $61,200)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $2,834 lower median federal student loan debt than Purdue graduates. ($18,666 vs. $21,500)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Purdue graduates. ($193 vs. $222)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 78%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/