Cal Poly vs. UConn

Deciding between California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and University of Connecticut? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University of Connecticut

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • Setting
  • Cal Poly Small Suburban
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal Poly 23,069
  • UConn 28,306
  • Type
  • Cal Poly Public 4 Year
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cal Poly #151
  • UConn #106
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cal Poly -
  • UConn -
  • Status
  • Cal Poly Non-profit
  • UConn Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cal Poly
  • UConn

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cal Poly $13,596
  • UConn $21,044
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cal Poly $34,665
  • UConn $43,712
  • Room & Board
  • Cal Poly $18,792
  • UConn $14,380
  • Average Net Price
  • Cal Poly $17,453
  • UConn $25,310
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly $14,338
  • UConn $16,503
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly 48%
  • UConn 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cal Poly 68,371
  • UConn 55,479
  • Admitted
  • Cal Poly 21,416
  • UConn 29,065
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cal Poly 31.3%
  • UConn 52.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Cal Poly 24.6%
  • UConn 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal Poly 1320
  • UConn 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal Poly 29
  • UConn 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cal Poly 4.0
  • UConn 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cal Poly A/A+
  • UConn A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cal Poly Very High
  • UConn Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cal Poly High
  • UConn Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cal Poly 26/32
  • UConn 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • Cal Poly 1220/1410
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cal Poly Test-free
  • UConn Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cal Poly 19:1
  • UConn 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cal Poly
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Agriculture (15%)
    • Architecture (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cal Poly 75%
  • UConn 83%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cal Poly $69,400
  • UConn $62,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cal Poly 85%
  • UConn 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cal Poly $18,666
  • UConn $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cal Poly $193
  • UConn $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cal Poly 49%
  • UConn 45%
  • % Women
  • Cal Poly 51%
  • UConn 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cal Poly High
  • UConn Medium
  • HBCU
  • Cal Poly No
  • UConn No
  • % White
  • Cal Poly 57%
  • UConn 61%
  • % Asian
  • Cal Poly 12%
  • UConn 10%
  • % Black
  • Cal Poly 1%
  • UConn 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cal Poly 16%
  • UConn 9%
  • % Native American
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • UConn 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • UConn 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cal Poly 7%
  • UConn 3%
  • % International
  • Cal Poly 2%
  • UConn 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cal Poly 5%
  • UConn 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cal Poly 83%
  • UConn 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cal Poly 17%
  • UConn 42%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • UConn Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cal Poly No
  • UConn No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • UConn Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cal Poly No
  • UConn No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • UConn Yes

Comparable Facts

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

University of Connecticut is larger than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (28,306 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 Connecticut is in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting).
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Connecticut is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; University of Connecticut 17:1.

Cal Poly vs. UConn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UConn? 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 California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than UConn ($17,453 vs. $25,310).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 23.5% lower than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($14,380 vs. $18,792).
  • University of Connecticut is 54.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $7,448 more per year; $21,044.00 vs. $13,596.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.1% higher at UConn than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $9,047 more per year; $43,712.00 vs. $34,665.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (81% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Connecticut students is 15.1% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($16,503 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. UConn Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Connecticut (1330) is 10 points higher than at Cal Poly (1320).
  • Incoming UConn students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Cal Poly).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; University of Connecticut 1210/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; University of Connecticut 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; UConn - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; UConn Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UConn (3.74).
  • UConn has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 15.4% at UConn.

Cal Poly vs. UConn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and UConn? 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 Connecticut's six-year graduation rate (83%) 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 $7,400 more per year than UConn graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates have a $2,834 lower median loan debt than UConn graduates ($18,666 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Cal Poly graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UConn graduates ($193 vs. $222).
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UConn students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 78%)

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.