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Caltech UCSB San Diego State UCSC UA Huntsville UCSD UC Davis UW-Seattle California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona UCI Auburn| University of Alabama at Birmingham | California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Cal Poly | ||
| Location | Birmingham, AL | San Luis Obispo, CA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 21,639 | 22,000 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #427 | #155 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uab.edu | calpoly.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Cal Poly | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,832 | $5,742 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,216 | $17,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,120 | $16,449 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,834 | $19,184 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,142 | $10,065 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 42% |
Admission |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Cal Poly | ||
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| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,947 | 58,774 | ||
| Admitted | 8,622 | 17,885 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.7% | 30.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 25.7% | 28.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.82 | 4.0 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A/A+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 23/30 | 26/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1200/1410 | 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 | Jun 1, 2025 | Nov 30, 2024 |
Academics |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Cal Poly | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Cal Poly | ||
| Graduation Rate | 45% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,400 | $69,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 52% | 85% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $18,666 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $193 |
Diversity |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Cal Poly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 51% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 49% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 25% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 16% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 7% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Cal Poly | ||
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| % In-State | 82% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 16% | ||
Campus |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Cal Poly | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than University of Alabama at Birmingham based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 21,639 students)
University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Cal Poly Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, University of Alabama at Birmingham or Cal Poly?
- University of Alabama at Birmingham is 53.8% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($8,832.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 20.4% higher at University of Alabama at Birmingham than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($21,216.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Alabama at Birmingham than Cal Poly ($16,834 vs. $19,184)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Alabama at Birmingham are 25.4% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($13,120 vs. $16,449)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Alabama at Birmingham than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (93% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Alabama at Birmingham students is 10.7% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($11,142 vs. $10,065)
University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Cal Poly Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, University of Alabama at Birmingham or Cal Poly? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cal Poly or University of Alabama at Birmingham .
- The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 112 points higher than at University of Alabama at Birmingham (1147)
- Incoming Cal Poly students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at University of Alabama at Birmingham (25)
- Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at University of Alabama at Birmingham (3.82)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)
University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Cal Poly Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 University of Alabama at Birmingham.
- The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than University of Alabama at Birmingham (75% vs. 45%)
- Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $23,000 more per year than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $46,400)
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $2,834 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates. ($18,666 vs. $21,500)
- Cal Poly graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates. ($193 vs. $222)
- More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alabama at Birmingham students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 52%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/