Cal Poly vs UT Tampa

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO) and The University of Tampa (UT) are two distinct universities with unique offerings. Cal Poly SLO, a public polytechnic university, boasts a higher acceptance rate (78%) compared to UT's more selective admissions (54%). Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with Cal Poly SLO excelling in engineering, agriculture, and architecture, while UT is renowned for its business, nursing, and marine science programs. Cal Poly SLO's student body is predominantly composed of California residents, while UT attracts a more diverse population from across the nation and internationally. In terms of graduation rates, Cal Poly SLO has a slightly higher four-year graduation rate (68%) compared to UT's 65%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two institutions. Explore the table to discover which university better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo logo

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

The University of Tampa logo

The University of Tampa

Overview

Location San Luis Obispo, California Tampa, Florida
Campus setting Suburb: Small City: Large
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% 83.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 33.0% 53.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $40
SAT range N/A 1070 - 1240
ACT range N/A 23 - 28
Students submitting SAT score 20.0%
Students submitting ACT score 11.0%
Total number of applicants 54,570 32,904
Total number of admissions given out 18,008 17,620
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,884 3,102
Yield rate 27.1% 17.6%
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

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $29,680

Out of state: $47,590
$44,404
Average net price $20,708 $34,720
Tuition
In state: $5,742

Out of state: $17,622
$29,162
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,642

Meal plan: $6,138
Room/dormitory: $6,144

Meal plan: $5,772
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

55.0%
Average amount $5,988
98.0%
Average amount $13,448
Students receiving federal student loan 24.0%
Average amount $5,023
84.0%
Average amount $3,594
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $22,714
27.0%
Average amount $9,478

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 21,128
Men 51.2% Women 48.8%
9,838
Men 39.2% Women 60.8%
Graduate students 1,103
Men 50.4% Women 49.6%
956
Men 39.7% Women 60.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 20.6% N/A
International students 2.3% 6.4%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Small City: Large
Dormitory capacity 8,147 4,800
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Colorado Oregon Texas N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Agriculture
  • Architecture
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Education
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 21:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 85.4% 62.1%
Dropout rate 12.5% 36.5%
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
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,985
  • Year 2: $97,959
  • Year 3: $94,011
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,264
  • Year 2: $59,253
  • Year 3: $74,110
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,568
  • Year 2: $49,579
  • Year 3: $63,366
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,038
  • Year 2: $56,825
  • Year 3: $62,743
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,611
  • Year 2: $45,500
  • Year 3: $62,568
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,708
  • Year 2: $38,597
  • Year 3: $55,737
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,633
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $55,450
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,146
  • Year 2: $35,701
  • Year 3: $49,348
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,461
  • Year 2: $25,525
  • Year 3: $41,311
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,278
  • Year 2: $39,592
  • Year 3: $40,843

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
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