Cal Poly vs. University of Redlands

Should I go to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo or University of Redlands? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal Poly or University of Redlands 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 Redlands comparison
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo University of Redlands College 3 College 4
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo University of Redlands
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Overview

Cal Poly University of Redlands
Location San Luis Obispo, CA Redlands, CA
Setting Small Suburban Small City
Enrollment 22,000 3,460
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #155 #248
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calpoly.edu redlands.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal Poly University of Redlands
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $55,328
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $55,328
Room & Board $16,449 $15,758
Avg Net Price $19,184 $28,157
Avg Grant Aid $10,065 $42,251
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 94%

Admission

Cal Poly University of Redlands
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,774 3,872
Admitted 17,885 3,170
Acceptance Rate 30.4% 81.9%
Enrolled % 28.6% 17%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.74
Typical High School Grades A/A+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 26/32 25/30
SAT Range 1220/1410 1113/1278
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 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Cal Poly University of Redlands
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

Cal Poly University of Redlands
Graduation Rate 75% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,400 $56,400
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,666 $28,500
Median Loan Payment $193 $294

Diversity

Cal Poly University of Redlands
% Men 51% 39%
% Women 49% 61%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 48%
% Black 1% 5%
% Hispanic 16% 27%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 7% 5%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 8%

Students

Cal Poly University of Redlands
% In-State 83% 75%
% Out-of-State 16% 23%

Campus

Cal Poly University of Redlands
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than University of Redlands based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 3,460 students)

Cal Poly vs. University of Redlands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or University of Redlands?

  • University of Redlands is 863.6% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($55,328.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 214% higher at University of Redlands than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($55,328.00 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 University of Redlands ($19,184 vs. $28,157)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Redlands are 4.4% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($15,758 vs. $16,449)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Redlands than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (94% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Redlands students is 319.8% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($42,251 vs. $10,065)

Cal Poly vs. University of Redlands Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 129 points higher than at University of Redlands (1130)
  • Incoming Cal Poly students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at University of Redlands (25)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at University of Redlands (3.74)
  • University of Redlands has a higher acceptance rate (81.9%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)

Cal Poly vs. University of Redlands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal Poly or University of Redlands? 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 Redlands and Cal Poly.

  • The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than University of Redlands (75% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $13,000 more per year than University of Redlands graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $56,400)
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $9,834 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Redlands graduates. ($18,666 vs. $28,500)
  • Cal Poly graduates are paying $101 less per month on federal student loans than University of Redlands graduates. ($193 vs. $294)
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Redlands students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/