Cal Poly vs. WSU

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

Cal Poly WSU
Location San Luis Obispo, CA Ogden, UT
Setting Small Suburban Small City
Enrollment 22,000 29,914
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #155
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calpoly.edu weber.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal Poly WSU
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $5,471
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $16,164
Room & Board $16,449 $9,232
Avg Net Price $19,184 $10,525
Avg Grant Aid $10,065 $5,831
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 100%

Admission

Cal Poly WSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,774 -
Admitted 17,885 -
Acceptance Rate 30.4% Open
Enrolled % 28.6% Open
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.36
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Unavailable
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 26/32
SAT Range 1220/1410
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2024 Aug 31, 2025

Academics

Cal Poly WSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 21:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Health Professions (29%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (28%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)

Outcomes

Cal Poly WSU
Graduation Rate 75% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,400 $48,700
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,666 $15,000
Median Loan Payment $193 $155

Diversity

Cal Poly WSU
% Men 51% 44%
% Women 49% 56%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 57% 67%
% Black 1% 2%
% Hispanic 16% 10%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 7% 2%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 14%

Students

Cal Poly WSU
% In-State 83% 87%
% Out-of-State 16% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Weber State University is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (29,914 students vs. 22,000 students)

Cal Poly vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or WSU?

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is 5% more expensive to attend than WSU for in-state tuition ($5,742.00 vs. $5,471.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9% higher at Cal Poly than Weber State University ($17,622.00 vs. $16,164.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Weber State University than Cal Poly ($10,525 vs. $19,184)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Weber State University are 78.2% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($9,232 vs. $16,449)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Weber State University than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (100% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 72.6% larger than aid received Weber State University ($10,065 vs. $5,831)

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

  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.64 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at WSU (3.36)

Cal Poly vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal Poly or WSU? 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 WSU and Cal Poly.

  • The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than Weber State University (75% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $20,700 more per year than WSU graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $48,700)
  • Weber State University students graduate with a $3,666 lower median federal student loan debt than Cal Poly graduates. ($15,000 vs. $18,666)
  • WSU graduates are paying $38 less per month on federal student loans than Cal Poly graduates. ($155 vs. $193)
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 65%)

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