Cal Poly vs. SCI-Arc

Should I go to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo or Southern California Institute of Architecture? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal Poly or SCI-Arc 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. Southern California Institute of Architecture comparison
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Southern California Institute of Architecture College 3 College 4
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Southern California Institute of Architecture
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Overview

 Cal Poly SCI-Arc
Location San Luis Obispo, CA Los Angeles, CA
Setting Small Suburban Large City
Enrollment 22,485 457
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #146
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calpoly.edu sciarc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Cal Poly SCI-Arc
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $51,964
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $51,964
Room & Board $17,220 $13,555
Avg Net Price $16,888 $21,514
Avg Grant Aid $12,707 $45,500
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 25%

Admission

 Cal Poly SCI-Arc
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 63,736 606
Admitted 18,964 501
Acceptance Rate 29.8% 82.7%
Enrolled % 27.8% 7%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.5
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Moderate
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 26/32
SAT Range 1220/1410 1020/1230
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, 2025 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 Cal Poly SCI-Arc
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Architecture (100%)

Outcomes

 Cal Poly SCI-Arc
Graduation Rate 75% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,400 $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,666 $42,750
Median Loan Payment $193 $442

Diversity

 Cal Poly SCI-Arc
% Men 2% 28%
% Women 2% 19%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 13%
% Black 1% 1%
% Hispanic 16% 14%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 2%
% International 2% 51%
% Unknown Race 5% 0%

Students

 Cal Poly SCI-Arc
% In-State 86% 29%
% Out-of-State 14% 14%

Campus

 Cal Poly SCI-Arc
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
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 SCI-Arc based on total student enrollment (22,485 students vs. 457 students)

Cal Poly vs. SCI-Arc Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or SCI-Arc?

  • Southern California Institute of Architecture is 805% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($51,964.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 194.9% higher at SCI-Arc than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($51,964.00 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 SCI-Arc ($16,888 vs. $21,514)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern California Institute of Architecture are 27% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($13,555 vs. $17,220)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than Southern California Institute of Architecture (48% vs. 25%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern California Institute of Architecture students is 258.1% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($45,500 vs. $12,707)

Cal Poly vs. SCI-Arc Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or SCI-Arc? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SCI-Arc or Cal Poly .

  • The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 143 points higher than at SCI-Arc (1116)
  • Incoming Cal Poly students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at SCI-Arc (27)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at SCI-Arc (3.5)
  • SCI-Arc has a higher acceptance rate (82.7%) than Cal Poly (29.8%)

Cal Poly vs. SCI-Arc Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal Poly or SCI-Arc? 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 SCI-Arc and Cal Poly.

  • The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than Southern California Institute of Architecture (75% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $23,000 more per year than SCI-Arc graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $46,400)
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $24,084 lower median federal student loan debt than SCI-Arc graduates. ($18,666 vs. $42,750)
  • Cal Poly graduates are paying $249 less per month on federal student loans than SCI-Arc graduates. ($193 vs. $442)
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCI-Arc students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/