California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly)
Public four-year university in San Luis Obispo, CA that costs an average of $18,832 a year after financial aid, admits 31% of applicants and graduates 87% of full-time students.
PublicSmall suburb21,996 undergraduates
Cost of Cal Poly
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $36,515 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $15,039 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $37,005 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $19,443 |
| Books and supplies | $1,119 |
| Average net price after aid | $18,832 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $10,354 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $9,975 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $12,476 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $18,082 |
| $110,001+ | $31,461 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with Cal Poly's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 31% |
|---|---|
| Test scores | Neither required nor recommended |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 87% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 96% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $78,025 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $96,304 |
| Rank in California (earnings) | 18th of 129 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $16,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $188 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 23% |
| Students with federal loans | 24% |
Majors and programs at Cal Poly
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (74)
Master's degree programs (45)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 60 | $141,320 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 36 | $135,173 | — |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 36 | $110,184 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 61 | $100,804 | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 100 | $99,919 | $20,500 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 44 | $88,753 | — |
| Civil Engineering | 67 | $88,628 | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 29 | $86,345 | — |
| Architectural Engineering | 13 | $85,841 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 56 | $85,366 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 103 | $75,419 | $13,731 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 36 | $72,317 | — |
| Economics | 42 | $70,830 | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 16 | $63,328 | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 37 | $58,450 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Agricultural Business and Management | — | — | — |
| Agriculture | 31 | — | — |
| Animal Sciences | — | — | — |
| Architecture | 6 | — | — |
| Biology | 30 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 28 | — | — |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | 12 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 26 | — | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | — | — | — |
| Education | — | — | — |
| Engineering | — | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 65 | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | — | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 20 | — | — |
| Fire Protection | 38 | — | — |
| Food Science and Technology | 7 | — | — |
| Forestry | — | — | — |
| Graphic Communications | — | — | — |
| History | 12 | — | — |
| Industrial Engineering | 5 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 23 | — | — |
| Nutrition Sciences | 9 | — | — |
| Physics | 2 | — | — |
| Psychology | 30 | — | $41,000 |
| Public Administration | — | — | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | 28 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 1 | — | — |
| Statistics | 1 | — | — |
| Taxation | 30 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering-Related Fields | — | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | 1 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in California
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Fresno | Fresno | $5,418 | 95% | $62,756 |
| University of California-Riverside | Riverside | $12,672 | 76% | $72,974 |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | $16,807 | 33% | $82,568 |
| California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | $2,385 | 91% | $62,555 |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | Pomona | $9,404 | 75% | $77,464 |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco | $9,803 | 96% | $73,299 |
| University of California-Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz | $18,549 | 66% | $73,362 |
| San Jose State University | San Jose | $14,241 | 85% | $83,493 |
About Cal Poly
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA |
| Setting | Small suburb |
| Undergraduates | 21,996 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 19 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
| Website | calpoly.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is Cal Poly's acceptance rate?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo admits 31% of applicants, making it selective.
How much does Cal Poly cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $36,515 a year (tuition and fees: $15,039 in-state, $37,005 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $18,832 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $10,354.
How much do Cal Poly graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $96,304 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 18th of 129 similar colleges in California. The best-paid bachelor's program is computer science ($129,984 a year after graduation).
What is Cal Poly's graduation rate?
87% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 96% of first-year students return for a second year.