Undergraduate Tuition & Fees

The 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees of Cal Poly are $33,230 (out-of-state rate) and it is expensive compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo $33,230

All U.S. Colleges $17,692

Public, 4-Years Colleges $18,895

4-Years Colleges $22,926

Public, 4-Years Colleges in California $20,072

Graduate Tuition & Fees

The 2025 graduate tuition & fees of Cal Poly are $23,765 (out-of-state rate) and it is average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo $23,765

All U.S. Colleges $18,842

Public, 4-Years Colleges $20,343

4-Years Colleges $18,848

Public, 4-Years Colleges in California $21,760

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate of Cal Poly is 31% and it is lower (difficult to get in) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 31%

All U.S. Colleges 69%

Public, 4-Years Colleges 72%

4-Years Colleges 68%

Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 58%

Yield (Enrollment Rate)

The yield, also known as enrollment rate, of Cal Poly is 25% and the yield is average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 25%

All U.S. Colleges 37%

Public, 4-Years Colleges 32%

4-Years Colleges 35%

Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 20%

Graduation Rate

The average graduation rate at Cal Poly is 86% and it is extremely higher (most students completed in-time) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 86%

All U.S. Colleges 56%

Public, 4-Years Colleges 48%

4-Years Colleges 51%

Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 54%

Transfer-out Rate

The average transfer-out rate at Cal Poly is 1% and it is much lower (most first-time students continue to attend) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 1%

All U.S. Colleges 21%

Public, 4-Years Colleges 23%

4-Years Colleges 24%

Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 8%

Retention Rate

The average retention rate at Cal Poly is 96% and it is average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 96%

All U.S. Colleges 69%

Public, 4-Years Colleges 74%

4-Years Colleges 73%

Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 85%

Student Population

The total student population at Cal Poly is 23,069 and its population average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 23,069

All U.S. Colleges 2,931

Public, 4-Years Colleges 11,396

4-Years Colleges 4,686

Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 20,004

Financial Aid Amount

The average amount of financial aid received at Cal Poly is $12,264 which is 36.91% of tuition & fees. The rate of the financial aid over its tuition is lower compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo $12,264

All U.S. Colleges $7,676

Public, 4-Years Colleges $7,301

4-Years Colleges $12,161

Public, 4-Years Colleges in California $9,399

Student to Faculty Ratio

The students to faculty ratio at Cal Poly is 19 to 1 and the ratio is very lower (smaller size classes) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 19 to 1

All U.S. Colleges 15 to 1

Public, 4-Years Colleges 17 to 1

4-Years Colleges 14 to 1

Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 24 to 1

Number of Programs

Cal Poly offers 134 programs and it means average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 134

All U.S. Colleges 37

Public, 4-Years Colleges 108

4-Years Colleges 58

Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 120