Cal Poly vs. Texas A&M

Comparable Facts

Compare California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, CA with Texas A&M University College Station in College Station, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Texas A&M University College Station is larger than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (78,321 students vs. 23,069 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); Texas A&M University College Station is in College Station, TX (Small City setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas A&M University College Station is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; Texas A&M University College Station 20:1.

Cal Poly vs. Texas A&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Texas A&M? 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 Texas A&M ($17,453 vs. $21,437).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Texas A&M University College Station are 30.8% lower than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($13,008 vs. $18,792).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Texas A&M (about $442 more per year; $13,596.00 vs. $13,154.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.7% higher at Texas A&M than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $5,459 more per year; $40,124.00 vs. $34,665.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Texas A&M University College Station than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (56% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 14% larger than aid received by Texas A&M University College Station students ($14,338 vs. $12,580).

Cal Poly vs. Texas A&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or Texas A&M? 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 Texas A&M and Cal Poly.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1320) is 40 points higher than at Texas A&M (1280).
• Incoming Cal Poly students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Texas A&M).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; Texas A&M University College Station 1150/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; Texas A&M University College Station 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; Texas A&M - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; Texas A&M Dec 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Texas A&M (3.68).
• Texas A&M has a higher acceptance rate (57.4%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 39.9% at Texas A&M.

Cal Poly vs. Texas A&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and Texas A&M? 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).

• Texas A&M University College Station's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's (75%).
• Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than Texas A&M graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $65,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates have a $84 lower median loan debt than Texas A&M graduates ($18,666 vs. $18,750).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Texas A&M University College Station and Cal Poly graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($193 vs. $193).
• More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Texas A&M students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 81%)

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.