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Caltech Annapolis UCSB San Diego State UCSC UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona UCI Colorado School of Mines| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | United States Air Force Academy | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Cal Poly | USAFA | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | USAFA, Colorado | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,485 | 4,124 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #146 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | usafa.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | USAFA | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $0 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $0 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,220 | $0 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,888 | - | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,707 | $0 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 48% | 0% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | USAFA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 63,736 | 9,543 | ||
| Admitted | 18,964 | 1,329 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 29.8% | 13.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.8% | 79.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.81 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 26/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1250/1450 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | USAFA | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 7:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Cal Poly | USAFA | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | - | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | N/A | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | N/A |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | USAFA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 52% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 22% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | - | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 0% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 0% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 0% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 0% |
Students |
Cal Poly | USAFA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 5% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 14% | 93% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | USAFA | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than USAFA based on total student enrollment (22,485 students vs. 4,124 students)
Cal Poly vs. USAFA Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or USAFA?
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is ?% more expensive to attend than USAFA for in-state tuition ($5,742.00 vs. $0.00)
- Out of state tuition is ?% higher at Cal Poly than United States Air Force Academy ($17,622.00 vs. $0.00)
- More students receive financial grant aid at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than United States Air Force Academy (48% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is ?% larger than aid received United States Air Force Academy ($12,707 vs. $0)
Cal Poly vs. USAFA Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or USAFA? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USAFA or Cal Poly .
- 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 (29.8%) than USAFA (13.9%)
Cal Poly vs. USAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or USAFA? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between USAFA and Cal Poly.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/