Overview of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly)

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, is a public institution with an acceptance rate of 28%. The institution has a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to choose from. A robust student/faculty ratio backs students, and professors take a personalized approach to the teaching and learning process. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations. The Cal Poly Mustangs play in the NCAA Division I Big West Conference.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 21,812 (21,037 undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 52 percent male/48 percent female
• 96 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $9,942 (in-state); $21,822 (out-of-state)
• Books: $1,941
• Room and Board: $14,209
• Other Expenses: $2,835
• Total Cost: $28,927 (in-state); $40,807 (out-of-state)

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 64 percent
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 52 percent
  • Loans: 32 percent

• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $6,755
  • Loans: $6,011

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Engineering; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; and Social Sciences

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 94 percent
• Transfer-Out Rate: 2%
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 48 percent
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 82 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball

Overview of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly)

Admissions

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo accepts just below a third of applicants and is a selective state institution. The admission process is not holistic. Applicants don’t need to send essays or recommendation letters. Instead, admissions are decided by test scores and GPA. This institution wants to see outstanding grades in the most rigorous classes possible; Advanced Placement, IB, Honors, and dual enrollment classes— the more challenging your high school courses were, the better.

Admissions Data

Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, Cal Poly had an acceptance rate of 28%.  for every 100 students who submitted applications, 30 gained admission, making Cal Poly’s admissions process very competitive.

SAT Requirements and Scores

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo requires applicants to submit either SAT or ACT scores. Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 75% of admitted students provided SAT scores.

Cal Poly’s admitted students are in the top 20% on the SAT. 50% of students scored between 620 and 700 for the reading and writing section, while 25% scored below 620, and 25% scored over 700. 50% of students scored between 620 and 730 on the math section, while 25% scored below 620, and 25% scored above 730. Students with a cumulative SAT score of 1430 or higher will have competitive chances at Cal Poly.

ACT Requirements and Scores

Cal Poly requires that applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 57% of admitted students provided ACT scores.

Cal Poly’s students fall within the top 18% on the ACT, and the median 50% of students had a cumulative ACT score between 26 and 32, while 25% scored over 32, and 25% scored below 26.

GPA

The average high school GPA for Cal Poly freshman in 2018 was 4.0. All first-year students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo had GPAs ranging from 2.5 to 4.0, and over 95% of admitted students had GPAs of 3.50 and above.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, then it should be easy for you to gain admissions to the schools below. If Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

Syracuse University, Drexel University, University of Cincinnati, Penn State University Park, United States Military Academy, Hofstra University, Temple University

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, then you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

University of Miami, University of Washington, Stony Brook University, University of Texas at Dallas, Pepperdine University, University of Connecticut, University of Georgia

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.

University of Michigan, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York University, Boston University, Boston College, Villanova University, Binghamton University

Applying to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Application Deadline: November 30

Undergraduate Admissions Website:

https://www.calpoly.edu/admissions/first-year-student

Undergraduate Application Link(s):

https://www.calpoly.edu/admissions/first-year-student/how-to-apply

Graduate Admissions Website: https://www.calpoly.edu/admissions/graduate-student

Graduate Application Link(s):

https://www.calpoly.edu/admissions/graduate-student/how-to-apply