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ASU Caltech UNC Charlotte UCSB UNC Chapel Hill San Diego State UCSC ECU UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle California State Polytechnic University-Pomona| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | University of North Carolina at Wilmington | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Cal Poly | UNCW | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Wilmington, NC | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,000 | 17,843 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #155 | #377 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calpoly.edu | uncw.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cal Poly | UNCW | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $4,443 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $19,063 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,449 | $12,120 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,184 | $18,709 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,065 | $6,217 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 42% | 56% |
Admission |
Cal Poly | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,774 | 16,860 | ||
| Admitted | 17,885 | 11,605 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 68.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 20.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.56 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 24/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1220/1370 | ||
| 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 | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Cal Poly | UNCW | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Cal Poly | UNCW | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 67% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $69,400 | $44,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,666 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $211 |
Diversity |
Cal Poly | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 34% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 66% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 78% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 3% |
Students |
Cal Poly | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 19% | ||
Campus |
Cal Poly | UNCW | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than UNCW based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 17,843 students)
Cal Poly vs. UNCW Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or UNCW?
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is 29.2% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($5,742.00 vs. $4,443.00)
- Out of state tuition is 8.2% higher at UNCW than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($19,063.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than Cal Poly ($18,709 vs. $19,184)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Wilmington are 35.7% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($12,120 vs. $16,449)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (56% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 61.9% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($10,065 vs. $6,217)
Cal Poly vs. UNCW Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or UNCW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNCW or Cal Poly .
- The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 97 points higher than at UNCW (1162)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at UNCW (25)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UNCW (3.56)
- UNCW has a higher acceptance rate (68.8%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)
Cal Poly vs. UNCW Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cal Poly or UNCW? 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 UNCW and Cal Poly.
- The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (75% vs. 67%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $24,700 more per year than UNCW graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $44,700)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $1,834 lower median federal student loan debt than UNCW graduates. ($18,666 vs. $20,500)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than UNCW graduates. ($193 vs. $211)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCW 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/