California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public 4-year college in San Luis Obispo, California with 21,996 undergraduates. It admits 31% of applicants, costs an average of $18,832 a year after grants and graduates 87% of its students.
Figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, released October 15, 2026. What each number covers.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo acceptance rate and admissions
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo admitted 31% of applicants for fall 2024, about 1 in 3. The median acceptance rate at 4-year colleges is 77%.
Test scores: Neither required nor recommended (as reported for fall 2024 admission). That means you can apply without SAT or ACT scores. Check the admissions office for the current policy.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo tuition, cost and net price
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $15,039 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $37,005 |
| On-campus housing and food (2025-26) | $19,443 |
| Total cost of attendance (2024-25) | $36,515 |
| Average net price after grants (2024-25) | $18,832 |
Students who get federal aid pay an average of $18,832 a year after grants and scholarships, $17,683 less than the full cost of attendance. This figure covers in-state students.
What families pay, by income
Average yearly cost after grants for aided first-time students paying in-state tuition, by family income (2024-25):
Your own price depends on your family's full situation. Run California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's net price calculator for a personal estimate, or make a "what it costs us" card.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduation rate, earnings and debt
- 87% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years (students who started in 2019).
- Former students earned a median of $96,304 a year, 10 years after they started (students who received federal aid and were working).
- Students who completed left with a median of $16,500 in federal student loans.
Earnings compared
Debt compared
Median debt is 17% of median earnings 10 years after entry. Many advisers suggest keeping total student debt below one year of expected pay. See the monthly payment.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo majors and what graduates earn
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo awarded bachelor's degrees in 63 fields recently. The best-paid graduates four years out came from computer science ($154,784).
All 63 majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
| Major | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer science | 219 | $129,984 | $154,784 | $15,000 |
| Computer engineering | 117 | $114,472 | $148,950 | $17,178 |
| Electrical engineering | 76 | $95,254 | $125,240 | $20,315 |
| Construction Management | 126 | $91,503 | $118,331 | $18,399 |
| Industrial engineering | 69 | $89,961 | $112,797 | $18,999 |
| Business administration | 748 | $73,444 | $110,902 | $15,000 |
| Biomedical engineering | 84 | $84,426 | $109,232 | $19,500 |
| Aerospace engineering | 95 | $88,269 | $107,498 | $19,333 |
| Mechanical engineering | 288 | $86,929 | $106,750 | $17,000 |
| Environmental engineering | 31 | $79,657 | $102,702 | $16,109 |
| Statistics | 49 | $77,340 | $101,353 | $15,904 |
| Civil engineering | 126 | $79,454 | $101,072 | $16,667 |
| Materials Engineering | 59 | $77,737 | $100,599 | $18,500 |
| Economics | 57 | $77,018 | $98,927 | $12,000 |
| Philosophy | 31 | $29,855 | $98,592 | n/a |
| Physics | 34 | $42,890 | $96,805 | n/a |
| Architectural Engineering | 44 | $81,271 | $92,767 | $21,627 |
| Agricultural Engineering | 32 | $85,019 | $92,603 | $25,000 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 47 | $78,209 | $89,195 | n/a |
| Agribusiness | 118 | $62,504 | $88,396 | $14,167 |
| Agriculture, General | 36 | $56,536 | $84,412 | n/a |
| Mathematics | 68 | $52,033 | $83,187 | $16,851 |
| Plant and soil science | 49 | $58,916 | $82,487 | $19,333 |
| Political science | 98 | $42,667 | $81,843 | $14,013 |
| Agricultural Public Services | 35 | $67,189 | $80,965 | n/a |
| City and regional planning | 30 | $59,601 | $80,820 | $18,500 |
| Graphic Communications | 81 | $52,902 | $79,432 | $17,000 |
| Biochemistry and molecular biology | 29 | $56,115 | $78,097 | n/a |
| Agricultural Mechanization | 30 | $68,847 | $78,080 | n/a |
| Forestry | 40 | $45,731 | $77,419 | $15,000 |
| Food Science and Technology | 107 | $54,906 | $75,466 | $12,833 |
| Communication | 86 | $59,292 | $75,223 | $14,091 |
| Parks and recreation | 93 | $57,289 | $75,181 | $15,250 |
| Journalism | 86 | $38,051 | $70,829 | $15,250 |
| Sociology | 58 | $46,395 | $69,883 | $14,750 |
| Biology | 153 | $45,825 | $69,854 | $18,576 |
| Geology and earth sciences | 31 | $47,795 | $69,227 | n/a |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | 138 | $50,871 | $68,965 | $15,083 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 63 | $37,212 | $68,930 | $17,644 |
| Landscape Architecture | 42 | $61,551 | $68,795 | $19,500 |
| Liberal arts and general studies | 102 | $36,044 | $68,171 | $13,000 |
| History | 61 | $21,697 | $66,518 | $19,833 |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | 76 | n/a | $64,579 | $12,749 |
| Chemistry | 27 | $65,943 | $63,882 | n/a |
| English | 53 | $35,293 | $63,413 | $20,833 |
| Psychology | 156 | $31,269 | $60,466 | $12,000 |
| Fine and studio arts | 62 | n/a | $59,721 | $18,250 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 34 | $47,179 | $57,360 | n/a |
| Teacher education by grade level | 50 | n/a | $55,543 | $15,334 |
| Animal science | 207 | $40,627 | $54,805 | $15,000 |
| Theater | 10 | n/a | $36,697 | n/a |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 172 | $68,292 | n/a | $22,500 |
| Public health | 52 | $39,262 | n/a | $16,500 |
| Interdisciplinary studies, other | 41 | $44,063 | n/a | $14,667 |
| Manufacturing Engineering | 28 | $77,750 | n/a | n/a |
| Marine Sciences | 24 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Romance languages | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Engineering Science | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Music | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Linguistics | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ecology and evolutionary biology | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Four-year earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Fields with few graduates have no published earnings.
Graduate programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
35 graduate programs awarded degrees recently. Largest first.
Show 35 graduate programs
| Program | Degree | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher education by subject | Master's | 60 | $75,419 | $13,731 |
| Business analytics and operations research | Master's | 51 | $99,919 | $20,500 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | Master's | 33 | n/a | n/a |
| Business administration | Master's | 29 | $85,366 | n/a |
| Computer science | Master's | 28 | $141,320 | n/a |
| Civil engineering | Master's | 26 | $88,628 | n/a |
| Biomedical engineering | Master's | 23 | $88,753 | n/a |
| Mechanical engineering | Master's | 21 | $100,804 | n/a |
| Education leadership | Master's | 20 | $86,345 | n/a |
| Economics | Master's | 20 | $70,830 | n/a |
| Environmental science | Master's | 19 | $72,317 | n/a |
| School counseling and student services | Master's | 17 | $58,450 | n/a |
| Biology | Master's | 17 | n/a | n/a |
| Curriculum and Instruction | Master's | 15 | n/a | n/a |
| Taxation | Master's | 14 | n/a | n/a |
| Architectural Engineering | Master's | 13 | $85,841 | n/a |
| Agriculture, General | Master's | 12 | n/a | n/a |
| Special education | Master's | 12 | $63,328 | n/a |
| Aerospace engineering | Master's | 12 | $110,184 | n/a |
| Mathematics | Master's | 12 | n/a | n/a |
| Psychology | Master's | 12 | n/a | $41,000 |
| Fire science | Master's | 11 | n/a | n/a |
| City and regional planning | Master's | 10 | n/a | n/a |
| Electrical engineering | Master's | 10 | $135,173 | n/a |
| Chemistry | Master's | 10 | n/a | n/a |
| Public Policy Analysis | Master's | 10 | n/a | n/a |
| History | Master's | 8 | n/a | n/a |
| Architecture | Master's | 6 | n/a | n/a |
| English | Master's | 6 | n/a | n/a |
| Industrial engineering | Master's | 4 | n/a | n/a |
| Nutrition Sciences | Master's | 3 | n/a | n/a |
| Food Science and Technology | Master's | 2 | n/a | n/a |
| Statistics | Master's | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | Master's | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Physics | Master's | 0 | n/a | n/a |
Students and location
- 21,996 degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2024)
- 51% women, 49% men
- 19 students for every faculty member
- Setting: small suburb
- Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo admitted 31% of applicants for fall 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
How much does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo cost?
Tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $15,039 for in-state students and $37,005 for out-of-state students. After grants and scholarships, aided students paid an average net price of $18,832 a year in 2024-25.
Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo test-optional?
For fall 2024 admission, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo reported that test scores were: neither required nor recommended. Policies change, so confirm with the admissions office.
What is the graduation rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
87% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years.
How much do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduates make?
Former students who received federal aid earned a median of $96,304 a year 10 years after they started, in 2024 dollars.
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More: all colleges in California · California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo on the College Scorecard
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, data release of October 15, 2026. What each figure means and the year it covers.