Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Colorado State CU Denver DU Caltech Colorado School of Mines Utah UCSB San Diego State UCCS UCSC UCSD UC Davis| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | University of Colorado Boulder | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cal Poly | CU Boulder | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Boulder, CO | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,000 | 39,585 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #155 | #191 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | colorado.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | CU Boulder | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $11,520 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $38,770 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,449 | $16,146 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,184 | $21,836 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,065 | $10,477 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 57% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | CU Boulder | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,774 | 53,781 | ||
| Admitted | 17,885 | 43,416 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 80.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 16.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 26/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1160/1390 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2024 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | CU Boulder | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Cal Poly | CU Boulder | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $56,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 73% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $19,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $201 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | CU Boulder | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 55% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 45% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 71% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 5% | ||
| % International | 2% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
Cal Poly | CU Boulder | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 53% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 45% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | CU Boulder | ||
| 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 Colorado Boulder is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (39,585 students vs. 22,000 students)
Cal Poly vs. CU Boulder Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or CU Boulder?
- University of Colorado Boulder is 100.6% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($11,520.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 120% higher at CU Boulder than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($38,770.00 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 CU Boulder ($19,184 vs. $21,836)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Colorado Boulder are 1.9% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($16,146 vs. $16,449)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Colorado Boulder than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (57% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 4.1% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($10,477 vs. $10,065)
Cal Poly vs. CU Boulder Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or CU Boulder? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CU Boulder or Cal Poly .
- The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 47 points higher than at CU Boulder (1212)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at CU Boulder (27)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at CU Boulder (3.68)
- CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (80.7%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)
Cal Poly vs. CU Boulder Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or CU Boulder? 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 CU Boulder and Cal Poly.
- The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than University of Colorado Boulder (75% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $12,500 more per year than CU Boulder graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $56,900)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $834 lower median federal student loan debt than CU Boulder graduates. ($18,666 vs. $19,500)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than CU Boulder graduates. ($193 vs. $201)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Boulder students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 73%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/