What is the difference between cal state and cal poly, or is it the same?

Question

What is the difference between cal state and cal poly, or is it the same?

Answer 1

Cal State is a shortened name for California State University (CSU). There are many Cal State schools around California (see the complete list posted by the guy above me). Cal Poly is a Cal State University which has two campuses-- one in San Luis Obispo and one in Pomona. Cal Poly is a shortened name for California Polytechnic State University (CPSU). They offer majors from science, math, and engineering to english, journalism, and design. They are not a private school. Private schools include University of Southern California, University of San Diego, Westmont College, etc. Private schools have much higher tuition, while Cal State schools have the lowest tuition of the different Univeristies. Hope I could help clear things up a bit for you =)

Answer 2

California State University (all locations) are shortened to Cal State.  Cal Poly (as in Pomona or various other locations) is a private school, nothing to do w/ each other.

Answer 3

Check out these Cal State Universities:

California State University Bakersfield

California State University Channel Islands

California State University Chico

California State University Dominguez Hills

California State University East Bay

California State University Fresno

California State University Fullerton

Humboldt State University

California State University Long Beach

California State University Los Angeles

California Maritime Academy

California State University Monterey Bay

California State University Northridge

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

California State University Sacramento

California State University San Bernardino

San Diego State University

San Francisco State University

San Jose State University

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

California State University San Marcos

Sonoma State University

California State University Stanislaus

Answer 4

Cal Poly are State Universities, but focus on science & technology.  The "Poly" is short for "Polytechnic", which means they offer courses in multiple sciences.

The two Cal Poly campuses are in San Luis Obispo and Pomona.  If I understand correctly, the two different campuses focus on different sciences, so you'd need to figure out what you want to study before deciding where to go.