Cal Poly vs. SCU

Deciding between California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and Santa Clara University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Santa Clara University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • Setting
  • Cal Poly Small Suburban
  • SCU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal Poly 23,069
  • SCU 9,728
  • Type
  • Cal Poly Public 4 Year
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cal Poly #151
  • SCU #61
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cal Poly -
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Cal Poly Non-profit
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cal Poly
  • SCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cal Poly $13,596
  • SCU $61,293
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cal Poly $34,665
  • SCU $61,293
  • Room & Board
  • Cal Poly $18,792
  • SCU $19,893
  • Average Net Price
  • Cal Poly $17,453
  • SCU $53,883
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly $14,338
  • SCU $28,368
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly 48%
  • SCU 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cal Poly 68,371
  • SCU 18,970
  • Admitted
  • Cal Poly 21,416
  • SCU 9,105
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cal Poly 31.3%
  • SCU 48%
  • Enrolled
  • Cal Poly 24.6%
  • SCU 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal Poly 1320
  • SCU 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal Poly 29
  • SCU 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cal Poly 4.0
  • SCU 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cal Poly A/A+
  • SCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cal Poly Very High
  • SCU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cal Poly High
  • SCU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cal Poly 26/32
  • SCU 31/33
  • SAT Range
  • Cal Poly 1220/1410
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cal Poly Test-free
  • SCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cal Poly 19:1
  • SCU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cal Poly
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Agriculture (15%)
    • Architecture (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cal Poly 75%
  • SCU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cal Poly $69,400
  • SCU $81,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cal Poly 85%
  • SCU 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cal Poly $18,666
  • SCU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cal Poly $193
  • SCU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cal Poly 49%
  • SCU 49%
  • % Women
  • Cal Poly 51%
  • SCU 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cal Poly High
  • SCU High
  • HBCU
  • Cal Poly No
  • SCU No
  • % White
  • Cal Poly 57%
  • SCU 49%
  • % Asian
  • Cal Poly 12%
  • SCU 16%
  • % Black
  • Cal Poly 1%
  • SCU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cal Poly 16%
  • SCU 17%
  • % Native American
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • SCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • SCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cal Poly 7%
  • SCU 7%
  • % International
  • Cal Poly 2%
  • SCU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cal Poly 5%
  • SCU 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cal Poly 83%
  • SCU 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cal Poly 17%
  • SCU 36%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • SCU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cal Poly No
  • SCU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • SCU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cal Poly No
  • SCU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • SCU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, CA with Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than SCU based on total student enrollment (23,069 students vs. 9,728 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Small Suburban setting); Santa Clara University is in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; Santa Clara University 11:1.

Cal Poly vs. SCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or SCU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than SCU ($17,453 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 5.5% lower than at Santa Clara University ($18,792 vs. $19,893).
  • Santa Clara University is 350.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $47,697 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $13,596.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 76.8% higher at SCU than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $26,628 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $34,665.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Clara University than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (71% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Clara University students is 97.9% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($28,368 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. SCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or SCU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SCU and Cal Poly.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Santa Clara University (1420) is 100 points higher than at Cal Poly (1320).
  • Incoming SCU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at Cal Poly).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; Santa Clara University 1350/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; Santa Clara University 31/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; SCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; SCU Jan 7, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • SCU has a higher acceptance rate (48%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 17.7% at SCU.

Cal Poly vs. SCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and SCU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Santa Clara University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's (75%).
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn a median of about $12,500 more per year than Cal Poly graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,900 vs. $69,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates have a $2,834 lower median loan debt than SCU graduates ($18,666 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Cal Poly graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCU graduates ($193 vs. $222).
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.