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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. This institution follows a quarterly calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 29%. The freshman retention rate at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is 94.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 86%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is November 30. The transfer application deadline is November 30.
Read more about what California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
21,497
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
29%
Acceptance Rate
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
86%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to improve your chances of being accepted. Here are the most important facts you should know about admission policy and requirements at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
In 2024, the school accepted 18,964 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
29.4% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 7.2% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 30.96% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 50.61% between 1,200 and 1,399, 15.9% between 1,000 and 1,199, 2.46% of the students between 800 and 999, and 0.07% between 600 and 799. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 51.32, 39.74 between 24-29, 8.68 in the range between 18-23, and 0.26 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 4.03. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted.
Deadlines
The application deadline for this school is November 30. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is November 30.
29%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
The freshman retention rate for California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo was 94.7% in 2024, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 86%, 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. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2024 was 22,279.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 15.12% for that year. There was a total of 21,497 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 246 international students. 849 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 10,436 male and 10,704 female full-time students in 2024. There were 260 full-time graduate male and 351 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 3,072, and the number of Afro-American students was 149. 4,926 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 1,695 identified with more than one race. The school also had 56 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 23 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 631 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some important facts on California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
Tuition fees for area resident were $6,084, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $12,600. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $12,600, as well. Full-time students in 2024 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $4,757.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $12,600 | $4,757 | $17,357 |
| In-State | $6,084 | $4,757 | $10,841 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,119.
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?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo was $18,225 in 2024. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school cost $11,097, according to the data from 2024. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $13,671.
| Tuition | $ 6,084 |
| Room and Board | $ 18,225 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,119 |
| Total Expense | $ 25,428 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for a number of students. If you wish 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.
The most recent records show that 1,679 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $15,171.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 6,214 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 6,852. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $21,995,442, and state $31,885,587. The students of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $33,010,133, and external in the amount of $7,141,836.
$1,945
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements 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.
991 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2024. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 332 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $21,995,442 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $6,501. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $5,646,792. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $7,521,726 USD.
Majors
Faculty
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2024, this ratio at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo was 18:1. That means that there were 18 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 1,469 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 858 male and 604 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some information about students' life at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
It has a campus size of 6,000 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
That includes sororities and fraternities. 16 percent of male and 20 of female students take part in in different organizations at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. If you are interested in music, you can join the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. 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 vital for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. 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. There is 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 29%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is 94.7%.
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.