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Caltech Tennessee Ole Miss UCSB Auburn LSU San Diego State UCSC Georgia UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle| The University of Alabama | California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Alabama | Cal Poly | ||
| Location | Tuscaloosa, AL | San Luis Obispo, CA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 38,644 | 22,000 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #404 | #155 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ua.edu | calpoly.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Alabama | Cal Poly | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,100 | $5,742 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,460 | $17,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,426 | $16,449 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,592 | $19,184 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,683 | $10,065 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 82% | 42% |
Admission |
Alabama | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 54,072 | 58,774 | ||
| Admitted | 43,290 | 17,885 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.1% | 30.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.6% | 28.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.76 | 4.0 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A/A+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 23/31 | 26/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1410 | 1220/1410 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2025 | Nov 30, 2024 |
Academics |
Alabama | Cal Poly | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Alabama | Cal Poly | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,900 | $69,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | 85% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,750 | $18,666 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $245 | $193 |
Diversity |
Alabama | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 51% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 49% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 16% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 7% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 5% |
Students |
Alabama | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 35% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 64% | 16% | ||
Campus |
Alabama | Cal Poly | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- The University of Alabama is larger than than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (38,644 students vs. 22,000 students)
Alabama vs. Cal Poly Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Alabama or Cal Poly?
- The University of Alabama is 93.3% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($11,100.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 78.5% higher at Alabama than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($31,460.00 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 Alabama ($19,184 vs. $20,592)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Alabama are 14% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($14,426 vs. $16,449)
- More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Alabama than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (82% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 55.8% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($15,683 vs. $10,065)
Alabama vs. Cal Poly Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Alabama or Cal Poly? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cal Poly or Alabama .
- The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 78 points higher than at Alabama (1181)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Alabama (27)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Alabama (3.76)
- Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (80.1%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)
Alabama vs. Cal Poly Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Alabama or Cal Poly? 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 Cal Poly and Alabama.
- The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than The University of Alabama (75% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $19,500 more per year than Alabama graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $49,900)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $5,084 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama graduates. ($18,666 vs. $23,750)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama graduates. ($193 vs. $245)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/