Cal Poly vs United States Naval Academy (USNA)
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) and the United States Naval Academy (USNA) are two distinct institutions offering unique educational experiences. Cal Poly, a public polytechnic university, boasts an acceptance rate of 31%, while USNA, a federal service academy, has a highly selective acceptance rate of 9%. Cal Poly's student body is predominantly composed of California residents, with a diverse mix of majors, including engineering, business, and agriculture. In contrast, USNA's student body is primarily made up of midshipmen preparing for careers as commissioned officers in the United States Navy or Marine Corps, with a focus on majors such as engineering, mathematics, and operations research. Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with Cal Poly's at 82% and USNA's at 98%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions and determine which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and career goals.
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![]() California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
![]() United States Naval Academy |
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Overview |
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Location | San Luis Obispo, California | Annapolis, Maryland |
Campus setting | Suburb: Small | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 98.0% |
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No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 33.0% | 8.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
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SAT range | N/A | 1200 - 1420 |
ACT range | N/A | 26 - 32 |
Students submitting SAT score | 69.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 48.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 54,570 | 16,265 |
Total number of admissions given out | 18,008 | 1,374 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 4,884 | 1,183 |
Yield rate | 27.1% | 86.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | 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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Average net price | $20,708 | |
Tuition |
In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,642
Meal plan:
$6,138
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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 |
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Students receiving federal student loan |
24.0%
Average amount $5,023 |
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Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $22,714 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
21,128
Men 51.2% Women 48.8% |
4,528
Men 71.3% Women 28.7% |
Graduate students |
1,103
Men 50.4% Women 49.6% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 20.6% | 92.6% |
International students | 2.3% | 1.3% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Small | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 8,147 | 4,667 |
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 Texas Maryland Virginia Florida |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 21:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | N/A |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 85.4% | 91.3% |
Dropout rate | 12.5% | 8.7% |
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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N/A |
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