California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, commonly known as Cal Poly, is a prestigious public university located in San Luis Obispo, California. Established in 1901, Cal Poly is well known for its hands-on approach to education and emphasis on applied learning. The university offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across six colleges, including agriculture, engineering, business, liberal arts, science, and architecture and environmental design.
Cal Poly boasts a highly regarded faculty composed of accomplished professionals and industry experts who bring real-world experience into the classroom. This unique approach to education prepares students for successful careers upon graduation. The university also offers students numerous opportunities for research, internships, and cooperative education, allowing them to gain practical experience in their chosen fields.
Beyond academics, Cal Poly provides a vibrant campus life with a range of student organizations, clubs, and sports teams. The university has a strong emphasis on sustainability and is dedicated to maintaining an eco-friendly campus. Located on the central coast of California, students can take advantage of the surrounding natural beauty, including nearby beaches, hiking trails, and vineyards. With its exceptional academic programs, commitment to hands-on learning, and picturesque location, Cal Poly offers an enriching and dynamic educational experience for its students.
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is a public comprehensive higher education institution located in San Luis Obispo, CA and set in a suburban environment. Its campus is 6,000 acres in size. This educational institution operates on a quarterly calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 30%. The freshman retention rate at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is 93.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 87%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is November 30. For transfer students, the application deadline is November 30.
Read more about what you can expect if you get into California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Quick Facts
20,963
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
30%
Acceptance Rate
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
87%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the institution in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. How difficult is it to get admitted to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and what are the admission requirements?
In 2023, the school accepted 17,885 new students. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
28% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 9% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 38.82% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 44.64% between 1,200 and 1,399, 14.05% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 2.49% between 800 and 999. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 62.29, 32.71 between 24-29, 4.17 in the range between 18-23, and 0.83 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 4. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance.
Deadlines
The cutoff date for submitting applications to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is November 30. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is November 30.
30%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university freshmen who return for their sophomore year. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo was 93.6% in 2023, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 87%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. Obtaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2023 was 21,778.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 16. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 20,963, 337 of which were foreign students. 823 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 10,367 male and 10,146 female full-time students in 2023. 260 full-time graduate men and 351 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 2,945 Asian students and 146 Afro-American students in 2023. 4,415 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 1,635 identified with more than one race. The school also had 53 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 21 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 590 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $5,742 for area residents. Tuition fees were $22,902 for students coming from out of state. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $22,902, as well. Full-time students in 2023 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $4,572.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $22,902 | $4,572 | $27,474 |
| In-State | $5,742 | $4,572 | $10,314 |
Books and Supplies
The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another important financial element. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,914.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2023, room and board cost at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo amounted to $16,412 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school reached $9,642, according to the data from 2023.
| Tuition | $ 5,742 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,412 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,914 |
| Total Expense | $ 24,068 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, here are some recent data you should consider.
According to the most recent data, 1,773 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $14,458 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 6,666 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 7,138. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $18,879,860, and state $20,446,989. The students of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $24,236,137, and external in the amount of $20,241,381.
$1,955
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 1,173 students overall (including freshmen) at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2023. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 314 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $18,879,860 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $10,168. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $5,823,758. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $8,351,238 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo was 18:1: that means 18 students per one teacher. The faculty of this school consists of 1,487 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 872 men and 612 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about students' life at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Student Organizations
Engaging with a variety of student organizations can enrich your educational experience and make it more rewarding.
This number includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 16 and female students 20. Those interested in music can join the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo offers a number of services crucial for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
All in all, campus life at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Career Counselling
At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, CA.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is 30%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is 93.6%.
Contact Information
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo,
1 Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA
93407
805 756-1111
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.