Cal Poly vs. UC Riverside

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Riverside is larger than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (26,384 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 Riverside is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; University of California Riverside 22:1.

Cal Poly vs. UC Riverside Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UC Riverside? 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 Riverside than Cal Poly ($14,562 vs. $17,453).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 9.2% lower than at University of California Riverside ($18,792 vs. $20,691).
• University of California Riverside is 14.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $2,010 more per year; $15,606.00 vs. $13,596.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 43.7% higher at UC Riverside than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $15,141 more per year; $49,806.00 vs. $34,665.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (76% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 69.9% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($24,355 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. UC Riverside Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1320) is 140 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
• Incoming Cal Poly students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at UC Riverside).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; University of California Riverside 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; University of California Riverside 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; UC Riverside - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UC Riverside (3.84).
• UC Riverside has a higher acceptance rate (76.4%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 12.2% at UC Riverside.

Cal Poly vs. UC Riverside Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and UC Riverside? 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 Riverside's (67%).
• Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $17,200 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates have a $443 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($18,666 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, Cal Poly graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($193 vs. $197).
• More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 65%)

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.