Cal Poly vs App State
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) and Appalachian State University (App State) are two public universities with distinct characteristics. Cal Poly, located on California's Central Coast, is known for its strong engineering and agriculture programs, while App State, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, excels in liberal arts and sciences. With acceptance rates of 30% and 79%, respectively, Cal Poly is more selective, attracting a diverse student body from across the nation and beyond. App State, on the other hand, welcomes a larger and more regional student population. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with Cal Poly emphasizing hands-on learning and App State focusing on experiential education. Explore the comparison table below to discover more about these two institutions, including popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and more, to help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey.
|
|
Appalachian State University |
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
|---|---|---|
Overview |
||
| Location | Boone, North Carolina | San Luis Obispo, California |
| Campus setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Small |
| College type | 4 year | 4 year |
| Control/business model | Public | Public |
| Calendar system | Semester | Quarter |
| Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
| Students retention rate | 86.0% | 95.0% |
Common app member
|
Yes | No |
| Religious affiliation | ||
|
|
||
Admission |
||
| Acceptance rate | 84.7% | 33.0% |
| Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$65
|
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
|
| SAT range | 1130 - 1300 | N/A |
| ACT range | 24 - 29 | N/A |
| Students submitting SAT score | 9.0% | |
| Students submitting ACT score | 23.0% | |
| Total number of applicants | 21,120 | 54,570 |
| Total number of admissions given out | 17,886 | 18,008 |
| Admitted students who chose to enroll | 4,099 | 4,884 |
| Yield rate | 22.9% | 27.1% |
| Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
| High school GPA | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
| High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
| English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
|
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
| Sticker price |
In state:
$22,220
Out of state:
$37,827
|
In state:
$29,680
Out of state:
$47,590
|
| Average net price | $12,735 | $20,708 |
| Tuition |
In state:
$4,242
Out of state:
$19,849
|
In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
|
| Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,595
Meal plan:
$4,086
|
Room/dormitory:
$9,642
Meal plan:
$6,138
|
| Available payment plans |
|
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
|
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
54.0%
Average amount $7,652 |
55.0%
Average amount $5,988 |
| Students receiving federal student loan |
45.0%
Average amount $5,054 |
24.0%
Average amount $5,023 |
| Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $12,285 |
1.0%
Average amount $22,714 |
|
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
| Undergraduate students |
18,555
Men 43.3% Women 56.7% |
21,128
Men 51.2% Women 48.8% |
| Graduate students |
2,086
Men 29.6% Women 70.4% |
1,103
Men 50.4% Women 49.6% |
| Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Moderate
|
| Out-of-state students | 10.5% | 20.6% |
| International students | 0.5% | 2.3% |
| Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Small |
| Dormitory capacity | 5,971 | 8,147 |
| First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
| Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | North Carolina South Carolina Virginia Georgia Florida | California Washington Colorado Oregon Texas |
|
|
||
Academics |
||
| Popular study areas |
|
|
| Students to faculty ratio | 17:1 | 21:1 |
| Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
|
|
||
Outcome |
||
| Graduation rate | 72.7% | 85.4% |
| Dropout rate | 7.6% | 12.5% |
| Transferred out | 18.3% | 1.2% |
| Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (First Professional Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
|
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fire Protection (Master's Degrees)
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
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