Cal Poly vs Dartmouth
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) and Dartmouth College stand as two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique educational experiences. Cal Poly, a public polytechnic university, boasts an acceptance rate of 31%, while Dartmouth, a private Ivy League research university, maintains a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 8%. Cal Poly's student body is predominantly composed of California residents, reflecting its strong regional ties, while Dartmouth attracts a diverse student population from across the nation and the world. Both universities excel in different academic areas; Cal Poly is renowned for its engineering, agriculture, and business programs, while Dartmouth is known for its strengths in the liberal arts, social sciences, and engineering. With Cal Poly's focus on hands-on learning and Dartmouth's emphasis on critical thinking and intellectual exploration, prospective students are encouraged to explore the detailed comparison table to discover which institution best aligns with their academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
![]() Dartmouth College |
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Overview |
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Location | San Luis Obispo, California | Hanover, New Hampshire |
Campus setting | Suburb: Small | Town: Remote |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Quarter | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 98.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 33.0% | 6.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
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Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$50
|
SAT range | N/A | 1440 - 1560 |
ACT range | N/A | 33 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 47.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 30.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 54,570 | 28,356 |
Total number of admissions given out | 18,008 | 1,750 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 4,884 | 1,221 |
Yield rate | 27.1% | 69.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$29,680
Out of state:
$47,590
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$81,501 |
Average net price | $20,708 | $24,078 |
Tuition |
In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
|
$58,953 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,642
Meal plan:
$6,138
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Room/dormitory:
$10,569
Meal plan:
$6,792
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
55.0%
Average amount $5,988 |
48.0%
Average amount $56,106 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
24.0%
Average amount $5,023 |
20.0%
Average amount $5,066 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $22,714 |
37.0%
Average amount $5,335 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
21,128
Men 51.2% Women 48.8% |
4,556
Men 50.7% Women 49.3% |
Graduate students |
1,103
Men 50.4% Women 49.6% |
2,205
Men 50.4% Women 49.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 20.6% | 97.3% |
International students | 2.3% | 17.0% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Small | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 8,147 | 3,733 |
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 | California New York Mississippi New Jersey Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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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 |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 85.4% | 93.6% |
Dropout rate | 12.5% | 4.9% |
Transferred out | 1.2% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
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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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Health (First Professional Degrees)
Engineering Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
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