California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Overview

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is a public, state school in a suburban setting in San Luis Obispo, California. Cal Poly SLO was founded in 1901 and the school enrolls around 22,022 students per year, including 21,093 undergraduate students. Cal Poly SLO offers on-campus housing for students. Most students live in off campus housing.

📆 Mark your calendar! The final application deadline for Fall 2023 is November 30. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2023 should hear from Cal Poly SLO by April 1.

Student Involvement at Cal Poly SLO

Interested in music or performing? At Cal Poly SLO you can join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of the school's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? Cal Poly SLO students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Interested in Greek life? Cal Poly SLO has both fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? Cal Poly SLO has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Cal Poly SLO on the Student Life page.

Is Cal Poly SLO a Good School?

The definition of a "good school" can mean different things for different people. Admissions difficulty, admitted student statistics, tuition, and financial aid can all provide a sense of how selective a school is.

Let's take a look at these areas to get a better idea of what Cal Poly SLO offers and if the college seems like the right college for you.

2022 Acceptance Rate for California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

It is moderately difficult to get into Cal Poly SLO. Around 33% of applicants get into Cal Poly SLO each year. Out of 54,570 applications received in 2022, 18,008 students were offered admission.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Cal Poly SLO

Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. Retention measures how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Approximately 95% of students who start at Cal Poly SLO return the next year. 87% of Cal Poly SLO undergrads graduate within six years. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.

Job Outcomes for Cal Poly SLO Grads

Job placement stats are a good resource for understanding the value of a degree from Cal Poly SLO by providing a look on how job placement has gone for other grads.

Check with Cal Poly SLO directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Cal Poly SLO

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.

Cal Poly SLO meets 59.4% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $11,586 a year.

In 2020, students graduated with an average of $21,874 in student loans for each student with debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022

Some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so don't give your money (or info!) to any website that claim you do.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Cal Poly SLO.

Based on this information, does Cal Poly SLO seem like a good fit? Remember, the best school for one person may not be the right school for someone else! So ask yourself: Is Cal Poly SLO a good school for you?

If California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

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Where is California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Located?

Cal Poly SLO is located in the suburban setting of San Luis Obispo, California.

If you want to see Cal Poly SLO for yourself, be sure to plan a visit! The best way to reach campus is to take U.S. Highway 101 to San Luis Obispo, or book a flight to the nearest airport, San Luis Obispo County Regional.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Cal Poly SLO and San Luis Obispo are like without leaving home.

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