California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs. University of Southern California (USC) Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to Cal Poly or USC?“
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
University of Southern California (USC)
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and University of Southern California (USC). This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and University of Southern California (USC)
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and University of Southern California (USC). The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | University of Southern California (USC) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $9,001 | $50,277 |
| Net Price | $17,661 | $29,174 |
| Average Financial Aid | $4,384 | $33,822 |
| Total Undergraduates | 19972 | 18519 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1130 - 1340 | 1270 - 1500 |
| Acceptance Rate | 31 | 18 |
| Location | 1 Grand Ave. | University Park |
| City Name | San Luis Obispo | Los Angeles |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles. Cal Poly is in a Mountain and USC is in a Mountain - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or University of Southern California (USC) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then University of Southern California (USC) is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that University of Southern California (USC) is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do Cal Poly Dorms Compare to housing Options at USC?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. Cal Poly charges for on-campus living, while USC charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
Cal Poly and USC student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, % | USC,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 57.49999999999999 | 40.129999999999995 |
| Hispanic | 15.690000000000001 | 13.8 |
| Black | 0.8099999999999999 | 4.21 |
| Foreign | 1.76 | 13.4 |
| Others | 24.2 | 28.5 |
How different is the California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo campus compared to University of Southern California (USC) campus?
The Cal Poly campus is located in San Luis Obispo, CA and is characterized as Suburb: Small (outside principal city, in urbanized area with population less than 100,000). The USC campus is located in Los Angeles, CA and is characterized as City: Large (population of 250,000 or more).
Which school gives more financial aid?
Cal Poly provides $4,384 whereas USC provides an average of $33,822.
How does Cal Poly academics compare to USC?
When analyzing academics between California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and University of Southern California (USC) we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | Cal Poly | USC |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | 538 | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | 96 | 49 |
| Architecture and related services | 183 | 238 |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 8 | 17 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 142 | 423 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 149 | 217 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | 78 | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 1148 | 473 |
| Education | 103 | N/A |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | 58 | N/A |
Which is better: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or University of Southern California (USC)?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between Cal Poly and USC. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does Cal Poly social life compare to USC?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how Cal Poly social life differs from USC.
Check here.
Check here.