Cal Poly vs. University of Nevada-Reno

Should I go to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo or University of Nevada Reno? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal Poly or University of Nevada-Reno is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo vs. University of Nevada Reno comparison
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo University of Nevada Reno College 3 College 4
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo University of Nevada Reno
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Overview

Cal Poly University of Nevada-Reno
Location San Luis Obispo, CA Reno, NV
Setting Small Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 22,000 20,945
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #155 #443
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calpoly.edu unr.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal Poly University of Nevada-Reno
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $8,133
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $24,687
Room & Board $16,449 $13,796
Avg Net Price $19,184 $16,670
Avg Grant Aid $10,065 $7,829
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 92%

Admission

Cal Poly University of Nevada-Reno
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,774 9,398
Admitted 17,885 8,047
Acceptance Rate 30.4% 85.6%
Enrolled % 28.6% 41%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.4
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 26/32 20/26
SAT Range 1220/1410 1060/1270
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2024 Apr 7, 2025

Academics

Cal Poly University of Nevada-Reno
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

Cal Poly University of Nevada-Reno
Graduation Rate 75% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,400 $53,400
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,666 $18,801
Median Loan Payment $193 $194

Diversity

Cal Poly University of Nevada-Reno
% Men 51% 46%
% Women 49% 54%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 57% 60%
% Black 1% 4%
% Hispanic 16% 19%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 7% 6%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

Cal Poly University of Nevada-Reno
% In-State 83% 76%
% Out-of-State 16% 23%

Campus

Cal Poly University of Nevada-Reno
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

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than University of Nevada-Reno based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 20,945 students)

Cal Poly vs. University of Nevada-Reno Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or University of Nevada-Reno?

  • University of Nevada Reno is 41.6% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($8,133.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.1% higher at University of Nevada-Reno than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($24,687.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Nevada Reno than Cal Poly ($16,670 vs. $19,184)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nevada Reno are 19.2% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($13,796 vs. $16,449)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Nevada Reno than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (92% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 28.6% larger than aid received University of Nevada Reno ($10,065 vs. $7,829)

Cal Poly vs. University of Nevada-Reno Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or University of Nevada-Reno? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of Nevada-Reno or Cal Poly .

  • The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 175 points higher than at University of Nevada-Reno (1084)
  • Incoming Cal Poly students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at University of Nevada-Reno (24)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at University of Nevada-Reno (3.4)
  • University of Nevada-Reno has a higher acceptance rate (85.6%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)

Cal Poly vs. University of Nevada-Reno Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal Poly or University of Nevada-Reno? 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 University of Nevada-Reno and Cal Poly.

  • The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than University of Nevada Reno (75% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $16,000 more per year than University of Nevada-Reno graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $53,400)
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $135 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Nevada-Reno graduates. ($18,666 vs. $18,801)
  • Cal Poly graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than University of Nevada-Reno graduates. ($193 vs. $194)
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Nevada-Reno 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/