Quad

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CAQuad's selectivityVery selective
Known forBig campusHigh earnersHigh graduation rate
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 3 applicants admitted

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo admits about 1 in 3 applicants (31%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 93% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

31%

31%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityVery selective

Applied

68,371

Admitted

21,416

Yield

25%

of admits enroll

Applications +56% since fall 2014 · admit rate 31% → 31%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A large campus of 21,996 undergrads, where 19% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

22K

undergrads · larger than 96% of colleges

Diversity index

0.68

Pell Grant

19%

below the median

First generation

25%

below the median

Small suburbNCAA D-I FCS · Big West ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.61 → 0.68 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (15% of graduates). 19 students for every faculty member, more than at 87% of colleges. 69% of faculty are full-time. Spends $11,438 a year on instruction per student.

19 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 87% of colleges

Most popular major

Business Administration and Management, General

15% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$154.8K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

69%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$11.4K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $28,156 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $3.9K more than the national median. The 49% who received grants paid $17,453 on average; the other 52% paid the full sticker price of $32,321 in-state / $52,241 out-of-state.

20%

$28.2K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $3.9K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$32,321 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 20% of full price

Federal loans

25%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −9% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $90,768 ten years after enrolling, more than at 95% of colleges; 87% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.2 years of that salary.

87%

87%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$90.8K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$18.5K

≈ $196/month for 10 years

Retention

96%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 75% → 86% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 3% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 9%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 56% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 31% to 31%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −9% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +56%

  • Selectivity

    Steady

    admit rate 31% → 31%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.61 → 0.68

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

15% admit · SAT 1460 · 20.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
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University of Florida

20% admit · SAT 1400 · 35.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
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University of Virginia-Main Campus

17% admit · SAT 1475 · 17.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
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University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

16% admit · SAT 1450 · 34.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

    California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-11

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (2026)

    California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 110422 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything