Quad

Key differences on Cost & aid

  1. 1

    California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo costs about $11.3K less per year on average than Michigan ($28,156 vs. $39,461, all students)

    Average cost, all students
  2. 2

    Michigan's grants cover 27% of its full price on average, vs. 20% at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

    Aid generosity

Cost & aid

Cost & aid

Average cost, aid generosity, net price by family income, sticker prices, and grants.

What students pay

Average cost, all students
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$28.2K
Michigan$39.5K
Aid generosity
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo20%
Michigan27%
Net price, with grants
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$17.5K
Michigan$17.6K

Grants

First-years receiving grants
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo49%
Michigan59%
Average grant
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$14.3K
Michigan$25.1K
Aid from the college
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo42%
Michigan58%

Sticker prices

On one scale, so the bars read against each other.

Sticker price, in-state
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$32.3K
Michigan$34.8K
Sticker price, out-of-state
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$52.2K
Michigan$75.6K
Tuition & fees, in-state
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$11.1K
Michigan$17.2K
Tuition & fees, out-of-state
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$31K
Michigan$58.1K
First-years paying out-of-state rates
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo14%
Michigan48%
What families at each income pay

Up to $110K: the average net price per year for students receiving federal aid, 2023–24; families who didn't file the FAFSA aren't included. Above it the published data end. For your own number, use the college's net price calculator .

Family income per year $150K

  • California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoLittle need-based aid above $110K
  • MichiganPublished data end at $110K

Published (federal figure, up to $110K) EstimateBars share one scale: the largest full price.

Where need-based aid ends, merit, and published promises

MetricCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoMichigan
Need-based aid up to Little need-based aid above $110KPublished data end at $110K
Merit for students without need ––
Published promise –No tuition under $125K (in-state) · 2026–27

A college's own promise is stated for a typical family and changes yearly; where a promise and our estimate disagree, the promise wins. Merit has no income limit, so it can lower the price above the point where need-based aid ends.

Tuition guarantee & Promise program

MetricCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoMichigan
Tuition guarantee NoNo
Promise program NoYes

From the colleges' Common Data Sets

MetricCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoMichigan
Aid forms –FAFSA · CSS Profile
Aid priority date or deadline –December 15 (priority)
Need met, first-years –91%
Average aid package, first-years –$38,078
College grant dollars given as merit ––
Aid for international students ––

All cost numbers in the table

Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;Common Data Set, most recent release;University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Common Data Set 2025–26, 2024–25;University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (2026–27), 2026–27;University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why