California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Acceptance
31%
In-State
$13,596
Grad Rate (4yr)
61%
Retention
96%
Earnings
$90,768
AI Overview
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's "Learn by Doing" philosophy puts you in vineyards, labs, and real business projects from day one—particularly strong if you're drawn to agriculture, agribusiness, or hands-on applied sciences. Nestled between California's Central Coast beaches and rolling hills, the campus attracts outdoorsy, pragmatic students who'd rather build than theorize. The competitive 30% acceptance rate brings motivated peers who thrive on collaborative projects rather than cutthroat competition. You'll graduate with an impressive portfolio, not just a transcript.
AI-generated interpretation, separate from the federal statistics on this page · refreshed Mar 2026
SAT Score Range
SAT data not available
ACT Score Range
ACT data not available
In-State Tuition
$13,596
Out-of-State Tuition
$34,665
Room & Board
$18,792
Average Net Price
$16,665
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
Receive Pell Grants
19%
Take Federal Loans
25%
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,500
6-Year Graduation Rate
1st Year Retention Rate
Median Earnings
10 years after enrollment
$90,768Median Debt
At graduation for completers
$18,500Top Programs by Earnings
Bachelor's degree graduatesComputer Science
202 graduates
$154,784
4 yrs after graduation
Computer Engineering
129 graduates
$148,950
4 yrs after graduation
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
159 graduates
$125,240
4 yrs after graduation
Construction Management
150 graduates
$118,331
4 yrs after graduation
Industrial Engineering
76 graduates
$112,797
4 yrs after graduation
Business Administration, Management and Operations
689 graduates
$110,902
4 yrs after graduation
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
71 graduates
$109,232
4 yrs after graduation
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
110 graduates
$107,498
4 yrs after graduation
Mechanical Engineering
278 graduates
$106,750
4 yrs after graduation
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
39 graduates
$102,702
4 yrs after graduation
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
Available Programs
90+ programsAnd 78 more programs available
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