California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in San Luis Obispo, California. It enrolls 21,996 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarQuarter
How It Measures Up
These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Selective), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.
Excellent
88/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes94
Value93
Affordability42
Selectivity92
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo admits 31.3% of applicants, which makes it genuinely competitive, so your application needs to be strong.
Acceptance Rate
31.3%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $16,665 a year on average, it sits below what public colleges charge nationally. That still leaves most families a gap to cover, but a manageable one. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$13,596
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$34,665
Room & Board (on-campus)
$18,792
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,155
Books & Supplies
$1,119
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,069
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,942
Total Cost of Attendance
$32,265
Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,529
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,253
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,896
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,786
Over $110,000
$27,772
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,74310%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$18,500Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$30,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,446
↓ $2,054
No Pell $15,000
↓ $3,500
Dependent students $15,334
↓ $3,166
Independent students $16,500
↓ $2,000
Female students $15,500
↓ $3,000
Male students $15,235
↓ $3,265
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,166, less than completers ($18,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
78% of students who start here finish within six years, and 95% come back after first year. Most people who start here leave with the degree they came for. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.
6-Year Graduation Rate
78%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
95%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $90,768 a year, well above the national median. Strong earnings, though the field studied drives much of that. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$90,768
Earning > $25K
90%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$59,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$84,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$68,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$73,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$77,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $25,000, about 29% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
6.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 95% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Who you would actually be sitting next to: 21,996 students, a sprawling student community.
Total Enrolled
21,996
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
25%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 47.6%10,468
Hispanic 25.3%5,554
Asian 14.0%3,073
Other 8.5%1,859
Black 0.8%167
International 0.7%158
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
94 distinct programs across
27 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
There are 18 students for every instructor here: on the higher side, so larger classes are common.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,639
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$265M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$103,006
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
931 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
315
34%
$122,857
Associate Professors
191
21%
$107,910
Assistant Professors
159
17%
$95,384
Lecturers
261
28%
$78,886
No Rank
5
1%
$166,412
Pros & Cons of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
No college is right for everyone. Here is where California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
The questions families ask most about California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.
Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo hard to get into?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 31.3%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
31.3% of applicants are admitted. Around half get in, so a solid application has a real chance. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
How much does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo cost?
Budget around $16,665 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo worth it?
On the numbers, yes: strong return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $90,768 a year against a net price of $16,665, about 5.4 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo known for?
Mostly Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduates earn?
About $90,768 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo accredited?
Yes. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
21,996 students. Large, so expect big lectures and more independence in finding your own footing. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
78% finish within six years. Most people who start here graduate, which is the signal you want. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo a public or private college?
It is Public. Public, so in-state students usually pay materially less than everyone else.
Where is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo located?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, California.
What programs does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo offer?
94 different programs, most commonly Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
18 students per instructor. About average, so a mix of seminars and larger lectures. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
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