Cal Poly vs. Woodbury University

Deciding between California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and Woodbury University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA
  • Woodbury University Burbank, CA
  • Setting
  • Cal Poly Small Suburban
  • Woodbury University Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal Poly 23,069
  • Woodbury University 849
  • Type
  • Cal Poly Public 4 Year
  • Woodbury University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cal Poly #151
  • Woodbury University
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cal Poly -
  • Woodbury University -
  • Status
  • Cal Poly Non-profit
  • Woodbury University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cal Poly
  • Woodbury University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cal Poly $13,596
  • Woodbury University $47,056
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cal Poly $34,665
  • Woodbury University $47,056
  • Room & Board
  • Cal Poly $18,792
  • Woodbury University $14,843
  • Average Net Price
  • Cal Poly $17,453
  • Woodbury University $37,258
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly $14,338
  • Woodbury University $22,081
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly 48%
  • Woodbury University 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cal Poly 68,371
  • Woodbury University 2,572
  • Admitted
  • Cal Poly 21,416
  • Woodbury University 2,100
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cal Poly 31.3%
  • Woodbury University 81.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Cal Poly 24.6%
  • Woodbury University 5.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal Poly 1320
  • Woodbury University
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal Poly 29
  • Woodbury University
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cal Poly 4.0
  • Woodbury University 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cal Poly A/A+
  • Woodbury University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cal Poly Very High
  • Woodbury University Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cal Poly High
  • Woodbury University
  • ACT Range
  • Cal Poly 26/32
  • Woodbury University
  • SAT Range
  • Cal Poly 1220/1410
  • Woodbury University
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cal Poly Test-free
  • Woodbury University Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026
  • Woodbury University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cal Poly 19:1
  • Woodbury University 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cal Poly
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Agriculture (15%)
    • Architecture (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Woodbury University
    • Architecture (42%)
    • Business (35%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
    • Psychology (2%)
    • General Studies (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cal Poly 75%
  • Woodbury University 52%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cal Poly $69,400
  • Woodbury University $50,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cal Poly 85%
  • Woodbury University 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cal Poly $18,666
  • Woodbury University $31,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cal Poly $193
  • Woodbury University $320

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cal Poly 49%
  • Woodbury University 45%
  • % Women
  • Cal Poly 51%
  • Woodbury University 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cal Poly High
  • Woodbury University Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cal Poly No
  • Woodbury University No
  • % White
  • Cal Poly 57%
  • Woodbury University 34%
  • % Asian
  • Cal Poly 12%
  • Woodbury University 8%
  • % Black
  • Cal Poly 1%
  • Woodbury University 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cal Poly 16%
  • Woodbury University 26%
  • % Native American
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • Woodbury University 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • Woodbury University 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cal Poly 7%
  • Woodbury University 2%
  • % International
  • Cal Poly 2%
  • Woodbury University 24%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cal Poly 5%
  • Woodbury University 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cal Poly 83%
  • Woodbury University 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cal Poly 17%
  • Woodbury University 11%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • Woodbury University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cal Poly No
  • Woodbury University No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • Woodbury University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cal Poly No
  • Woodbury University Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • Woodbury University No

Comparable Facts

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

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than Woodbury University based on total student enrollment (23,069 students vs. 849 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); Woodbury University is in Burbank, CA (Large City setting).
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Woodbury University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; Woodbury University 13:1.

Cal Poly vs. Woodbury University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Woodbury University? 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 Woodbury University ($17,453 vs. $37,258).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Woodbury University are 21% lower than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($14,843 vs. $18,792).
  • Woodbury University is 246.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $33,460 more per year; $47,056.00 vs. $13,596.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.7% higher at Woodbury University than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $12,391 more per year; $47,056.00 vs. $34,665.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Woodbury University than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (100% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Woodbury University students is 54% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($22,081 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. Woodbury University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or Woodbury University? 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 Woodbury University 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; Woodbury University - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.61 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Woodbury University (3.39).
  • Woodbury University has a higher acceptance rate (81.6%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 5.9% at Woodbury University.

Cal Poly vs. Woodbury University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and Woodbury University? 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).

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than Woodbury University's (52%).
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $18,900 more per year than Woodbury University graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $50,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates have a $12,334 lower median loan debt than Woodbury University graduates ($18,666 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cal Poly graduates have an estimated $127 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Woodbury University graduates ($193 vs. $320).
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Woodbury University students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 60%)

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.