California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
- 8/10 Overall Rating
- 4 Year
- San Luis Obispo, CA
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4.7 3 reviews
Overview
Total enrollment
23,069- Location San Luis Obispo, California
- Website calpoly.edu
- Type Public 4 Year
- Setting Small Suburban
Best Colleges Rank
#151- Size Large
- Status Non-profit
- Housing Yes
- Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) is situated along California's central coast, midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles in the city of San Luis Obispo. The 1,321-acre main campus, known for its Spanish-influenced architecture, combines suburban and rural elements with rolling hills and agricultural lands used for hands-on learning. Established in 1901 as a vocational high school, Cal Poly has evolved into a selective public university recognized for its "Learn by Doing" educational approach and strong programs in engineering, architecture, and agriculture. The campus houses most first-year students in traditional residence halls and maintains specialized facilities including engineering labs, architecture design studios, and agricultural units. The university competes in NCAA Division I athletics as the Mustangs, with notable programs in baseball and volleyball.
Ratings
Cal Poly is rated within the top 26% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 8 out of 10.
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Overall Rating8 out of 10
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Academics9 out of 10
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Resources5 out of 10
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Outcomes9 out of 10
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Value8 out of 10
Rankings
Rankings for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
Admissions
Admission Standards
- GPA 4.0
Acceptance Rate
- Applications Due Nov 30, 2026
- Enrollment Rate 24.6%
- Application Fee $70
Applicant Competition High
Annual Cost to Attend
California Resident Tuition
$13,596Out of State Resident Tuition
$34,665Breakdown
- Tuition $13,596
- Books and Supplies $1,119
- Other Fees $7,512
- Room and Board $18,792
- Budget for Other Expenses $3,069
- Total One Year Cost $44,088
- Tuition $34,665
- Books and Supplies $1,119
- Other Fees $7,512
- Room and Board $18,792
- Budget for Other Expenses $3,069
- Total One Year Cost $65,157
Student Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
Popular majors at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are Engineering, Business, and Agriculture. 24% of students major in Engineering, 15% in Business, and 15% in Agriculture.
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Engineering 24%
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Business 15%
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Agriculture 15%
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Architecture 8%
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Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies 5%
More Colleges to Consider
Students considering California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=110422.
GPA calculator: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo GPA calculator.
Last updated: August 2026