Head-to-head comparison
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs Cal Poly Maritime Academy: which has better ROI?
Option A San Luis Obispo, CA
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
- Net price / year
- $16,665
- Earnings, 10 years
- $90,768
- Payback
- 1.6 yrs
Option B Vallejo, CA
Cal Poly Maritime Academy
- Net price / year
- $20,555
- Earnings, 10 years
- $94,784
- Payback
- 1.8 yrs
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $66,660 in 1.6 years versus 1.8 years at Cal Poly Maritime Academy, on median earnings of $90,768 vs $94,784 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Cal Poly Maritime Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,665 | $20,555 |
| Total net cost | $66,660 | $82,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $90,768 | $94,784 |
| Median debt | $18,500 | $24,965 |
| Payback | 1.6 yrs | 1.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $781,500 | $846,260 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or Cal Poly Maritime Academy?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, at $16,665 a year after aid versus $20,555 — a gap of $3,890 a year, or $15,560 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or Cal Poly Maritime Academy graduates earn more?
Cal Poly Maritime Academy graduates report a median $94,784 ten years after entry, $4,016 more than the $90,768 at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or Cal Poly Maritime Academy?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo: its completers carry a median $18,500 in federal loans versus $24,965 at Cal Poly Maritime Academy, a difference of $6,465. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
86% of students finish at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, against 60% at Cal Poly Maritime Academy. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.