Cal Poly vs. Stanford

Comparable Facts

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

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than Stanford based on total student enrollment (23,069 students vs. 18,625 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); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; Stanford University 6:1.

Cal Poly vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Stanford? 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 Stanford ($17,453 vs. $25,078).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 11.8% lower than at Stanford University ($18,792 vs. $21,315).
• Stanford University is 384.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $52,314 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $13,596.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 90.1% higher at Stanford than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $31,245 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $34,665.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (61% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 337.7% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($62,755 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or Stanford? 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 Stanford and Cal Poly.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 230 points higher than at Cal Poly (1320).
• Incoming Stanford students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 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; Stanford University 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; Stanford University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; Stanford - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Stanford (3.96).
• Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (31.3%) than Stanford (3.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

Cal Poly vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and Stanford? 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).

• Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's (75%).
• Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $53,500 more per year than Cal Poly graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $69,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $6,191 lower median loan debt than Cal Poly graduates ($12,475 vs. $18,666).
• Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $65 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal Poly graduates ($128 vs. $193).
• More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal Poly students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 85%)

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.