Explore alternatives based on outcomes, location, cost, and admission difficulty
Given Cal Poly's 29.8% acceptance rate, most applicants face meaningful uncertainty in admission outcomes. Students should build balanced college lists with institutions offering comparable career outcomes and program quality.
These schools offer higher acceptance rates while delivering comparable career outcomes.
For similar outcomes with better admission odds, consider Clarkson University in New York (77.2% acceptance, $89,696 median earnings) which offers strong engineering and technology programs. Maine Maritime Academy admits 61.4% of applicants while producing graduates earning $89,964, delivering comparable career preparation with more accessible admission standards.
Strong options in the same region with comparable academic profiles.
Students wanting to stay in California should consider UC Santa Barbara (27.8% acceptance, $74,915 earnings) located 76 miles away, though earnings are 17.5% lower. Colorado School of Mines (59.7% acceptance, $97,335 earnings) offers similar technical program focus with higher acceptance rates and slightly stronger earnings outcomes.
Schools with comparable admission profiles — useful for building a balanced list.
Other selective options include UC Santa Barbara (27.8% acceptance) for students interested in broader program offerings, though with lower earnings outcomes. UC Merced (39.2% acceptance, $64,368 earnings) provides somewhat easier admission within the UC system while maintaining strong academic standards.
Similar career outcomes at significantly lower cost.
Elite universities with similar prestige and academic caliber
