Cal Poly vs. UT Austin

Comparable Facts

Compare California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, CA with The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas at Austin is larger than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (53,864 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); The University of Texas at Austin is in Austin, TX (Large City setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Austin is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; The University of Texas at Austin 18:1.

Cal Poly vs. UT Austin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UT Austin? 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 UT Austin ($17,453 vs. $17,942).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Austin are 21.1% lower than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($14,828 vs. $18,792).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is 16.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Austin (about $1,908 more per year; $13,596.00 vs. $11,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.5% higher at UT Austin than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $10,243 more per year; $44,908.00 vs. $34,665.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than at The University of Texas at Austin (48% vs. 42%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 4.8% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Austin students ($14,338 vs. $13,681).

Cal Poly vs. UT Austin Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Texas at Austin (1380) is 60 points higher than at Cal Poly (1320).
• Incoming UT Austin students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 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; The University of Texas at Austin 1250/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; The University of Texas at Austin 27/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; UT Austin - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; UT Austin Dec 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UT Austin (3.8).
• Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (31.3%) than UT Austin (26.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 47.4% at UT Austin.

Cal Poly vs. UT Austin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and UT Austin? 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).

• The University of Texas at Austin'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 $800 more per year than UT Austin graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $68,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates have a $3,584 lower median loan debt than UT Austin graduates ($18,666 vs. $22,250).
• Among borrowers, Cal Poly graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Austin graduates ($193 vs. $230).
• More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Austin students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 77%)

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.