Cal Poly vs. UC Davis

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Davis is larger than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (40,065 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); University of California Davis is in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; University of California Davis 22:1.

Cal Poly vs. UC Davis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UC Davis? 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 University of California Davis than Cal Poly ($17,270 vs. $17,453).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 3.3% lower than at University of California Davis ($18,792 vs. $19,426).
• University of California Davis is 23.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $3,178 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $13,596.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47% higher at UC Davis than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $16,309 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $34,665.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Davis than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (60% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 71.5% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($24,591 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. UC Davis Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1320) is 40 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming Cal Poly students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 29) as students at UC Davis (29).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; University of California Davis 1160/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; University of California Davis 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; UC Davis - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; UC Davis Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have the same average high school GPA (4.0) as students at UC Davis (4.0).
• UC Davis has a higher acceptance rate (41.8%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 16.4% at UC Davis.

Cal Poly vs. UC Davis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and UC Davis? 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).

• University of California Davis's six-year graduation rate (82%) 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 $4,200 more per year than UC Davis graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $65,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $3,990 lower median loan debt than Cal Poly graduates ($14,676 vs. $18,666).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal Poly graduates ($151 vs. $193).
• More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Davis students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 82%)

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.