Cal Poly vs Harvard

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) and Harvard University stand as two distinct beacons of higher education, each offering a unique blend of academic excellence and vibrant campus life. While both institutions share a commitment to providing students with a transformative educational experience, they differ significantly in several key aspects. Cal Poly, a public polytechnic university, boasts an acceptance rate of 31%, making it more accessible to a broader range of students. Harvard, on the other hand, is a highly selective private research university with an acceptance rate of just 5%. In terms of popular majors, Cal Poly emphasizes hands-on learning in fields such as engineering, agriculture, and business, while Harvard offers a diverse range of liberal arts and sciences programs. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve deeper into the differences between these two esteemed institutions, considering factors such as student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to determine which university best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo logo

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Harvard University logo

Harvard University

Overview

Location San Luis Obispo, California Cambridge, Massachusetts
Campus setting Suburb: Small City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Quarter Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 95.0% 96.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 33.0% 4.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $105
SAT range N/A 1480 - 1580
ACT range N/A 33 - 36
Students submitting SAT score 54.0%
Students submitting ACT score 31.0%
Total number of applicants 54,570 57,786
Total number of admissions given out 18,008 2,318
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,884 1,951
Yield rate 27.1% 84.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $29,680

Out of state: $47,590
$78,028
Average net price $20,708 $13,910
Tuition
In state: $5,742

Out of state: $17,622
$51,143
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,642

Meal plan: $6,138
Room/dormitory: $11,705

Meal plan: $7,236
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

55.0%
Average amount $5,988
56.0%
Average amount $59,840
Students receiving federal student loan 24.0%
Average amount $5,023
3.0%
Average amount $5,180
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $22,714
2.0%
Average amount $8,080

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 21,128
Men 51.2% Women 48.8%
9,579
Men 49.0% Women 51.0%
Graduate students 1,103
Men 50.4% Women 49.6%
21,766
Men 46.3% Women 53.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 20.6% N/A
International students 2.3% 23.9%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Small City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 8,147 12,874
First year students are required to live on campus? No Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Colorado Oregon Texas New York California Texas Illinois New Jersey

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Agriculture
  • Architecture
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Education
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 21:1 7:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 85.4% 96.7%
Dropout rate 12.5% 2.0%
Transferred out 1.2% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,197
  • Year 2: $120,462
  • Year 3: $143,849
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,015
  • Year 2: $101,964
  • Year 3: $116,606
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,493
  • Year 2: $93,964
  • Year 3: $106,798
Fire Protection (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $103,907
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,656
  • Year 2: $82,780
  • Year 3: $96,152
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,643
  • Year 2: $73,562
  • Year 3: $90,242
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,873
  • Year 2: $78,971
  • Year 3: $90,194
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,220
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $89,378
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,920
  • Year 2: $70,886
  • Year 3: $87,984
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,454
  • Year 2: $79,647
  • Year 3: $87,345
Statistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,193
  • Year 2: $128,716
  • Year 3: $240,408
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $184,307
  • Year 2: $165,340
  • Year 3: $199,043
Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $171,333
  • Year 2: $171,907
  • Year 3: $187,553
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $140,072
  • Year 2: $128,737
  • Year 3: $163,896
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $151,371
  • Year 2: $174,023
  • Year 3: $163,512
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $123,508
  • Year 2: $117,916
  • Year 3: $129,281
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $121,832
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $102,707
  • Year 2: $90,856
  • Year 3: $121,771
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,905
  • Year 2: $98,670
  • Year 3: $107,389
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,745
  • Year 2: $71,486
  • Year 3: $106,375

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