California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California · Public, 4-year
At a glance
Average net price
$16,665
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
86.4%
Admission rate
31%
Undergrad size
21,996
In-state tuition
$13,596
Out-of-state tuition
$34,665
Cost of attendance
$32,265
Median earnings (10y)
$90,768
Admissions
- SAT average
- Not available
- ACT midpoint
- Not available
- Retention
- 95.5%
- Locale
- Suburb
Programs breakdown
25 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by stem (38%), humanities & arts (18%), business (18%).
- STEM38%
- Health1%
- Business18%
- Humanities & arts18%
- Social sciences9%
- Trades & services17%
- Engineering21.3%~4,676 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Business17.5%~3,851 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- Agriculture11.6%~2,558 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Social sciences4.9%~1,080 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Architecture4.9%~1,076 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Computer science4.4%~966 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~895 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~772 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Communication3.4%~754 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~746 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Psychology3.0%~671 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~565 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Mathematics2.3%~495 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Liberal arts2.0%~442 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~394 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~352 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~348 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- History1.2%~268 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- English1.0%~229 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~229 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- Education1.0%~220 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Engineering tech0.9%~207 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~132 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~40 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~22 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor's | 1,442 | $63,640 | $17,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 550 | $74,806 | $20,500 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor's | 365 | $91,351 | $19,298 |
| Animal Sciences. | Bachelor's | 324 | $30,350 | $20,500 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 323 | $32,589 | $22,949 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology. | Bachelor's | 306 | — | $23,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor's | 295 | $79,454 | $24,449 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | 291 | $29,831 | $20,000 |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor's | 287 | $91,493 | $20,556 |
| Civil Engineering. | Bachelor's | 278 | $72,381 | $20,424 |
| Construction Management. | Bachelor's | 273 | $83,616 | $18,955 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy. | Bachelor's | 256 | $31,009 | $20,000 |
| Agricultural Business and Management. | Bachelor's | 246 | $55,329 | $14,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor's | 223 | $38,741 | $17,500 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering. | Bachelor's | 216 | $74,220 | $22,500 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies. | Bachelor's | 197 | $52,700 | $16,369 |
| Food Science and Technology. | Bachelor's | 182 | $46,002 | $20,654 |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor's | 180 | $31,649 | $17,665 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 175 | $72,746 | $20,500 |
| Graphic Communications. | Bachelor's | 158 | $49,435 | $17,961 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor's | 150 | $29,831 | $16,666 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor's | 148 | $40,455 | $14,928 |
| Industrial Engineering. | Bachelor's | 148 | $72,643 | $19,691 |
| Nutrition Sciences. | Bachelor's | 148 | $33,431 | $17,620 |
| Sociology. | Bachelor's | 130 | $39,856 | $16,750 |
| Public Health. | Bachelor's | 122 | — | — |
| History. | Bachelor's | 115 | $27,907 | $17,627 |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor's | 113 | $46,729 | $16,718 |
| Economics. | Bachelor's | 112 | $51,116 | $18,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor's | 112 | $39,354 | $19,198 |
| Journalism. | Bachelor's | 109 | $39,869 | $19,333 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor's | 109 | $34,520 | $18,090 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor's | 109 | $31,386 | $23,956 |
| Plant Sciences. | Bachelor's | 104 | $50,514 | $16,666 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Master's | 95 | $101,786 | — |
| Materials Engineering. | Bachelor's | 94 | $62,746 | $17,000 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Master's | 94 | $73,268 | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. | Bachelor's | 88 | — | $18,250 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Master's | 87 | $68,923 | — |
| Civil Engineering. | Master's | 86 | $77,501 | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a very large institution located in San Luis Obispo, California, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 21,996 undergraduate students in a suburb setting. The most popular fields of study include Engineering, Business, Agriculture.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $16,665 per year, which is moderately priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Sticker tuition runs $13,596 for in-state students and $34,665 for out-of-state students before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $32,265 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 86.4%, a strong completion outcome. 95.5% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $90,768 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo confers degrees and certificates across 25 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Engineering, Business, Agriculture. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by stem (38% of credentials), humanities & arts (18% of credentials), business (18% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo accepts 31% of applicants, making it selective.
Location & campus
Set in San Luis Obispo, California (suburb), California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo draws students from across California and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Q.How much does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo cost?
The average net price at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $16,665 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $32,265.
Q.What is the graduation rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has a 6-year graduation rate of 86.4% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo admits 31% of applicants, which is considered selective.
Q.How much do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduate earns $90,768 per year.
Q.What is tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
Published tuition is $13,596 in-state and $34,665 out-of-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo located?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, California (ZIP 93407).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo at their official website.