Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
UCLA Caltech UCSB Stanford UCSD San Diego State UCSC UT Austin UC Davis Michigan UCI UW-Seattle| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | University of California Berkeley | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cal Poly | UC Berkeley | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Berkeley, CA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,000 | 45,307 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #155 | #63 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | berkeley.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | UC Berkeley | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $11,564 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $41,636 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,449 | $21,402 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,184 | $19,257 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,065 | $21,669 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 52% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | UC Berkeley | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,774 | 128,209 | ||
| Admitted | 17,885 | 14,523 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 11.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 46.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.87 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 30/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1310/1530 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2024 | Nov 30, 2024 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | UC Berkeley | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 19:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Cal Poly | UC Berkeley | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 90% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $74,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 79% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $14,200 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $146 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | UC Berkeley | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 27% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 14% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 5% | ||
| % International | 2% | 14% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 3% |
Students |
Cal Poly | UC Berkeley | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 78% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 11% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | UC Berkeley | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of California Berkeley is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (45,307 students vs. 22,000 students)
Cal Poly vs. UC Berkeley Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UC Berkeley?
- University of California Berkeley is 101.4% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($11,564.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 136.3% higher at UC Berkeley than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($41,636.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than UC Berkeley ($19,184 vs. $19,257)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 30.1% lower than costs at University of California Berkeley ($16,449 vs. $21,402)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of California Berkeley than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (52% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 115.3% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($21,669 vs. $10,065)
Cal Poly vs. UC Berkeley Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or UC Berkeley? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC Berkeley or Cal Poly .
- The average SAT score at University of California Berkeley (1397) is 138 points higher than at Cal Poly (1259)
- Incoming UC Berkeley students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Cal Poly (29)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UC Berkeley (3.87)
- Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (30.4%) than UC Berkeley (11.3%)
Cal Poly vs. UC Berkeley Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or UC Berkeley? 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 UC Berkeley and Cal Poly.
- The graduation rate at UC Berkeley is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (90% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn on average $5,300 more per year than Cal Poly graduates after ten years. ($74,700 vs. $69,400)
- University of California Berkeley students graduate with a $4,466 lower median federal student loan debt than Cal Poly graduates. ($14,200 vs. $18,666)
- UC Berkeley graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Cal Poly graduates. ($146 vs. $193)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Berkeley students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 79%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/