Cal Poly vs. USD

Comparable Facts

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

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (23,069 students vs. 9,714 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 San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

Cal Poly vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or USD? 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 USD ($17,453 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 5.7% lower than at University of San Diego ($18,792 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 337.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $45,890 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $13,596.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 71.6% higher at USD than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $24,821 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $34,665.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (84% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 185.7% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($40,965 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. USD Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at USD (3.95).
• USD 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. 12.4% at USD.

Cal Poly vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and USD? 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).

• The graduation rate at Cal Poly is the same as at University of San Diego (75% vs. 75%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $800 more per year than Cal Poly graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $69,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates have a $4,238 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($18,666 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, Cal Poly graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($193 vs. $236).
• More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD 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.