Cal Poly vs. UT Dallas

Comparable Facts

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

The University of Texas at Dallas is larger than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (29,886 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 Dallas is in Richardson, TX (Small City setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Dallas 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 Dallas 23:1.

Cal Poly vs. UT Dallas Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UT Dallas? 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 The University of Texas at Dallas than Cal Poly ($14,916 vs. $17,453).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Dallas are 23.2% lower than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($14,430 vs. $18,792).
• The University of Texas at Dallas is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $1,048 more per year; $14,644.00 vs. $13,596.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.8% higher at UT Dallas than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $5,479 more per year; $40,144.00 vs. $34,665.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Dallas than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (64% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Texas at Dallas students is 4% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($14,909 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. UT Dallas Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1320) is 30 points higher than at UT Dallas (1290).
• Incoming Cal Poly students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at UT Dallas).
• 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 Dallas 1160/1410.
• 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 Dallas 24/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; UT Dallas - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; UT Dallas May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UT Dallas (3.78).
• UT Dallas has a higher acceptance rate (65.1%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 20.3% at UT Dallas.

Cal Poly vs. UT Dallas Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than The University of Texas at Dallas's (61%).
• Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $10,400 more per year than UT Dallas graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $59,000), 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 UT Dallas graduates ($18,666 vs. $18,750).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, The University of Texas at Dallas 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 UT Dallas students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 64%)

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.