Cal Poly vs. USAFA

Deciding between California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and United States Air Force Academy? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
United States Air Force Academy

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA
  • USAFA USAF Academy, Colorado
  • Setting
  • Cal Poly Small Suburban
  • USAFA Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal Poly 23,069
  • USAFA 4,114
  • Type
  • Cal Poly Public 4 Year
  • USAFA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cal Poly #151
  • USAFA
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cal Poly -
  • USAFA -
  • Status
  • Cal Poly Non-profit
  • USAFA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cal Poly
  • USAFA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cal Poly $13,596
  • USAFA $0
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cal Poly $34,665
  • USAFA $0
  • Room & Board
  • Cal Poly $18,792
  • USAFA $0
  • Average Net Price
  • Cal Poly $17,453
  • USAFA -
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly $14,338
  • USAFA $0
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly 48%
  • USAFA 0%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cal Poly 68,371
  • USAFA 10,187
  • Admitted
  • Cal Poly 21,416
  • USAFA 1,435
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cal Poly 31.3%
  • USAFA 14.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Cal Poly 24.6%
  • USAFA 78.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal Poly 1320
  • USAFA 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal Poly 29
  • USAFA 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cal Poly 4.0
  • USAFA 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cal Poly A/A+
  • USAFA A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cal Poly Very High
  • USAFA Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cal Poly High
  • USAFA Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Cal Poly 26/32
  • USAFA 26/33
  • SAT Range
  • Cal Poly 1220/1410
  • USAFA 1230/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cal Poly Test-free
  • USAFA Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026
  • USAFA Dec 31, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cal Poly 19:1
  • USAFA 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cal Poly
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Agriculture (15%)
    • Architecture (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • USAFA
    • Engineering (35%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • General Studies (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cal Poly 75%
  • USAFA -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cal Poly $69,400
  • USAFA N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cal Poly 85%
  • USAFA -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cal Poly $18,666
  • USAFA N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cal Poly $193
  • USAFA N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cal Poly 49%
  • USAFA 70%
  • % Women
  • Cal Poly 51%
  • USAFA 30%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cal Poly High
  • USAFA -
  • HBCU
  • Cal Poly No
  • USAFA No
  • % White
  • Cal Poly 57%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Asian
  • Cal Poly 12%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Black
  • Cal Poly 1%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cal Poly 16%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Native American
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cal Poly 7%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % International
  • Cal Poly 2%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cal Poly 5%
  • USAFA 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cal Poly 83%
  • USAFA 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cal Poly 17%
  • USAFA 91%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • USAFA Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cal Poly No
  • USAFA Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • USAFA Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cal Poly No
  • USAFA No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • USAFA No

Comparable Facts

Compare California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, CA with United States Air Force Academy in USAF Academy, Colorado on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than USAFA based on total student enrollment (23,069 students vs. 4,114 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); United States Air Force Academy is in USAF Academy, Colorado (Large City setting).
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. United States Air Force Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; United States Air Force Academy 7:1.

Cal Poly vs. USAFA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or USAFA? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • In-state tuition differs between California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and USAFA ($13,596.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between Cal Poly and United States Air Force Academy ($34,665.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than at United States Air Force Academy (48% vs. 0%).

Cal Poly vs. USAFA Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at United States Air Force Academy (1340) is 20 points higher than at Cal Poly (1320).
  • Incoming Cal Poly students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 29) as students at USAFA (29).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; United States Air Force Academy 1230/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; United States Air Force Academy 26/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; USAFA - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; USAFA Dec 31, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at USAFA (3.81).
  • Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (31.3%) than USAFA (14.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 78.5% at USAFA.

Cal Poly vs. USAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

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.