Cal Poly vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

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

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (23,069 students vs. 9,110 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 Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cal Poly vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UC Merced? 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 Merced than Cal Poly ($13,690 vs. $17,453).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 12.4% lower than at University of California Merced ($18,792 vs. $21,445).
• University of California Merced is 14.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $2,027 more per year; $15,623.00 vs. $13,596.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 43.7% higher at UC Merced than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $15,158 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $34,665.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (89% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 90.3% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($27,292 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1320) is 270 points higher than at UC Merced (1050).
• Incoming Cal Poly students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 21 at UC Merced).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; University of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; University of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UC Merced (3.55).
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Cal Poly vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and UC Merced? 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 University of California Merced's (58%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates have a $1,233 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($18,666 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, Cal Poly graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($193 vs. $205).
• More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced 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.