Cal Poly San Luis Obispo vs UC Irvine: A Data-Driven Comparison
Admission Difficulty: UC Irvine is significantly more selective with a 21.15% acceptance rate compared to Cal Poly's 30.43%. Both schools attract strong applicants, but UCI presents a steeper admissions challenge.
Cost and Value: UCI offers better financial value with an average net price of $12,840 versus Cal Poly's $15,624. In-state tuition favors Cal Poly at $11,075 compared to UCI's $14,237, while out-of-state students pay substantially more at UCI ($45,014 vs $30,995). Graduates leave UCI with lower median debt ($15,000 vs $18,500).
Academic Strengths: Cal Poly excels in engineering, architecture, and applied sciences through its hands-on "Learn by Doing" philosophy. UCI stands out in computer science, business, medicine, and research across multiple disciplines. Both maintain identical 18:1 student-faculty ratios.
Campus Experience: Cal Poly's smaller enrollment (21,521) in the coastal college town of San Luis Obispo creates a tight-knit community atmosphere. UCI's larger campus (29,494 students) in suburban Orange County offers more diversity and research opportunities. Cal Poly shows higher retention (95.21% vs 93.79%).
Outcomes: Cal Poly graduates earn higher median salaries at $90,768 compared to UCI's $80,735 after ten years. Both schools achieve strong graduation rates (Cal Poly 85.20%, UCI 86.00%).
Students seeking hands-on technical education in a smaller college town environment fit Cal Poly better, while those wanting comprehensive research opportunities and diverse academic options in a larger university setting should choose UCI.
Admission Difficulty: UC Irvine is significantly more selective with a 21.15% acceptance rate compared to Cal Poly's 30.43%. Both schools attract strong applicants, but UCI presents a steeper admissions challenge.
Cost and Value: UCI offers better financial value with an average net price of $12,840 versus Cal Poly's $15,624. In-state tuition favors Cal Poly at $11,075 compared to UCI's $14,237, while out-of-state students pay substantially more at UCI ($45,014 vs $30,995). Graduates leave UCI with lower median debt ($15,000 vs $18,500).
Academic Strengths: Cal Poly excels in engineering, architecture, and applied sciences through its hands-on "Learn by Doing" philosophy. UCI stands out in computer science, business, medicine, and research across multiple disciplines. Both maintain identical 18:1 student-faculty ratios.
Campus Experience: Cal Poly's smaller enrollment (21,521) in the coastal college town of San Luis Obispo creates a tight-knit community atmosphere. UCI's larger campus (29,494 students) in suburban Orange County offers more diversity and research opportunities. Cal Poly shows higher retention (95.21% vs 93.79%).
Outcomes: Cal Poly graduates earn higher median salaries at $90,768 compared to UCI's $80,735 after ten years. Both schools achieve strong graduation rates (Cal Poly 85.20%, UCI 86.00%).
Students seeking hands-on technical education in a smaller college town environment fit Cal Poly better, while those wanting comprehensive research opportunities and diverse academic options in a larger university setting should choose UCI.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | University of California-Irvine | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 30.4% | 21.2% |
| Enrollment | 21,521 | 29,494 |
| In-State Tuition | $11,075 | $14,237 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $30,995 | $45,014 |
| Net Price | $15,624 | $12,840 |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 85.2% | 86.0% |
| Retention Rate | 95.2% | 93.8% |
| Median Earnings (10yr) | $90,768 | $80,735 |
| Median Debt | $18,500 | $15,000 |
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-Irvine | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | Earnings | Program | Earnings |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | $120,462 | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $81,929 |
| Computer Engineering. | $93,964 | Computer Science. | $73,128 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies. | $82,780 | Computer Engineering. | $69,338 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $79,647 | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | $66,461 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. | $76,460 | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $65,387 |
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