Cal Poly San Luis Obispo vs UC Davis: A Data-Driven Comparison
Admission Difficulty: Cal Poly SLO is more selective with a 30.43% acceptance rate compared to UC Davis at 37.34%. Both schools maintain competitive admission standards, but Cal Poly proves harder to enter.
Cost and Value: UC Davis charges higher tuition ($15,247 in-state vs $11,075), but both schools deliver similar net costs around $15,400-$15,600 after aid. Cal Poly graduates carry slightly more debt ($18,500 vs $13,000) but earn significantly more ten years post-graduation ($90,768 vs $80,838), suggesting stronger return on investment.
Academic Strengths: Cal Poly's smaller size (21,521 students) provides better faculty access with an 18:1 student-faculty ratio compared to UC Davis's 21:1 ratio among 31,777 students. Cal Poly emphasizes hands-on learning in engineering, agriculture, and applied sciences, while UC Davis offers broader research opportunities across disciplines including veterinary medicine, agriculture, and liberal arts.
Campus Experience: Both schools maintain high student satisfaction with Cal Poly's 95.21% retention rate slightly exceeding UC Davis's 93.37%. Cal Poly's coastal location offers beach proximity, while Davis provides a classic college town atmosphere near Sacramento.
Outcomes: Graduation rates are nearly identical (Cal Poly 85.20%, UC Davis 85.10%), but Cal Poly graduates demonstrate higher earning potential in technical fields.
Cal Poly suits students seeking hands-on technical education with strong career ROI, while UC Davis better serves students wanting comprehensive research university experiences with diverse academic options.
Admission Difficulty: Cal Poly SLO is more selective with a 30.43% acceptance rate compared to UC Davis at 37.34%. Both schools maintain competitive admission standards, but Cal Poly proves harder to enter.
Cost and Value: UC Davis charges higher tuition ($15,247 in-state vs $11,075), but both schools deliver similar net costs around $15,400-$15,600 after aid. Cal Poly graduates carry slightly more debt ($18,500 vs $13,000) but earn significantly more ten years post-graduation ($90,768 vs $80,838), suggesting stronger return on investment.
Academic Strengths: Cal Poly's smaller size (21,521 students) provides better faculty access with an 18:1 student-faculty ratio compared to UC Davis's 21:1 ratio among 31,777 students. Cal Poly emphasizes hands-on learning in engineering, agriculture, and applied sciences, while UC Davis offers broader research opportunities across disciplines including veterinary medicine, agriculture, and liberal arts.
Campus Experience: Both schools maintain high student satisfaction with Cal Poly's 95.21% retention rate slightly exceeding UC Davis's 93.37%. Cal Poly's coastal location offers beach proximity, while Davis provides a classic college town atmosphere near Sacramento.
Outcomes: Graduation rates are nearly identical (Cal Poly 85.20%, UC Davis 85.10%), but Cal Poly graduates demonstrate higher earning potential in technical fields.
Cal Poly suits students seeking hands-on technical education with strong career ROI, while UC Davis better serves students wanting comprehensive research university experiences with diverse academic options.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | University of California-Davis | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 37.3% |
| Enrollment | 21,521 | 31,777 |
| In-State Tuition | $11,075 | $15,247 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $30,995 | $46,024 |
| Net Price | $15,624 | $15,288 |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 85.2% | 85.1% |
| Retention Rate | 95.2% | 93.4% |
| Median Earnings (10yr) | $90,768 | $80,838 |
| Median Debt | $18,500 | $13,000 |
Top Programs by Earnings
Top 5 bachelor's programs at each school, ranked by median graduate earnings.
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | University of California-Davis | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | Earnings | Program | Earnings |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | $120,462 | Computer Engineering. | $82,440 |
| Computer Engineering. | $93,964 | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | $81,609 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies. | $82,780 | Engineering, General. | $70,370 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $79,647 | Civil Engineering. | $67,516 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. | $76,460 | Mechanical Engineering. | $67,324 |
Related Comparisons
California State University-Long Beach vs University of California-Davis
University of California-Davis vs University of California-San Diego
University of California-Davis vs San Diego State University
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs California State University-Long Beach