California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo
School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More
About California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo
School Type: Public
Religious Affiliation: Not applicable
Status: Non-profit
Military Friendly: No
Accreditation: regional
California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo is a large public university located on a suburban campus in San Luis Obispo, California. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,128, and admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 33%. The university offers 78 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 85%, and a student-faculty ratio of 21:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $5,742, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $17,622.
Rankings
Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.
- #6 Ranked in 10 Colleges With the Best Return on Investment in 2023
- #10 Ranked in Best Industrial Engineering Programs
Admissions Breakdown
Acceptance Rate Insight
33% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.
Retention Rate Insight
95% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.
Graduation Rate Insight
85% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.
Application Considerations
Test scoresNot required or recommended
High school transcriptRequired
High school rankNot required or recommended
Letter of recommendationNot required or recommended
High school GPARequired
Open admissionNo
Completion of college prep programRequired
Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Not required or recommended
Transfer Credit Policy
Dual enrollmentYes
Credit for qualified life experience*Yes
Advance placement (AP) creditsYes
*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.
SAT & ACT
ACT 25th-75th Percentile-
SAT 25th-75th Percentile-
Learning Environment
Student Body Stats
23k
Students enrolled
74%
Online student enrollment
21:1
Student to faculty ratio
Ways Students Can Learn
Demographics
White
53%
Unknown
3%
Black
1%
Hispanic
19%
Two or more races
7%
Non-U.S. Citizen
2%
Asian
13%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
Socio-economic diversity
14% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.
Online Programs
Offers Online Programs
Yes
Online Programs
2
Total Online Enrollment
16,528
Student Location Breakout
Bar graph visual depicting student location breakout percentages.74% online, 26% on-campus.
Percent of Programs Online
98% On-campus
2% Online
Types of Online Programs Offered
CertificatesNot offered
AssociateNot offered
Bachelor'sNot offered
Graduate CertificateNot offered
Master's4% online
DoctorateNot offered
Student Charges
Tuition and Required Fees
| Student Level | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $59,784 | $59,784 |
| Graduate | $54,672 | $54,672 |
Cost of Undergraduate Attendance
Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.
| Costs to Consider | Price |
|---|---|
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| On-campus room and board | $17,758 |
| On-campus other expenses | $2,600 |
| Off-campus (not with family) room and board | Currently unavailable |
| Off-campus (not with family) other expenses | Currently unavailable |
| Off-campus (with family) other expenses | Currently unavailable |
Total Undergraduate Cost
| Total cost by category | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| On-campus | $81,342 | $81,342 |
| Off-campus without family | $60,984 | $60,984 |
| Off-campus with family | $60,984 | $60,984 |
Financial Breakdown
Students Receiving Aid
Federal Grant Aid
14%
State Grant Aid
27%
Institution Grant Aid
44%
Pell Grant
14%
Average Aid Awarded
Financial Outlook
$19k
Average student debtafter graduation
$55k
Average salary 6 years after starting school
Varsity Athletic Teams
NCAA Division I-FCS
of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.
Participation
- All Track Combined
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Swimming Diving
- Tennis
- Wrestling
- Beach Volleyball
- Softball
- Volleyball
Degrees Awarded by Program
Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.
| # | Programs | BA | MA | Doc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields. | |||
| 2 | Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, And Related Sciences. | |||
| 3 | Architecture And Related Services. | |||
| 4 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies. | |||
| 5 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies. | |||
| 6 | Biological And Biomedical Sciences. | |||
| 7 | Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services. | |||
| 8 | Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs. | |||
| 9 | Communications Technologies/Technicians And Support Services. | |||
| 10 | Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services. | |||
| 11 | Education. | |||
| 12 | Engineering Technologies/Technicians. | |||
| 13 | Engineering. | |||
| 14 | Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians. | |||
| 15 | English Language And Literature/Letters. | |||
| 16 | Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences. | |||
| 17 | Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics. | |||
| 18 | Health Professions And Related Programs. | |||
| 19 | History | |||
| 20 | History. | |||
| 21 | Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services. | |||
| 22 | Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities. | |||
| 23 | Mathematics And Statistics. | |||
| 24 | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. | |||
| 25 | Natural Resources And Conservation. | |||
| 26 | Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies. | |||
| 27 | Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology. | |||
| 28 | Philosophy And Religious Studies. | |||
| 29 | Physical Sciences. | |||
| 30 | Psychology. | |||
| 31 | Public Administration And Social Service Professions. | |||
| 32 | Security And Protective Services. | |||
| 33 | Social Sciences. | |||
| 34 | Visual And Performing Arts. |
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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.