Cal Poly

Quick Navigation

Bookmark and Share

Overall Experience

Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo, CA

Photo by Nat W.
Used under Creative Commons.
Have a better photo? Send it to us!

Any visitor would be hard-pressed to find alumni who are unhappy with their stay at Cal Poly. In fact, graduates tend to be very sentimental about their college days and enjoy discussing time-tested sights and activities with current students whenever they run into them. While current students may be unhappy with one or two aspects of their college life, the overall experience is a positive one. The education is hands-on and prepares students well for professional life. The social scene helps to form lifelong friendships and contacts within the industry.

In fact, so many people enjoy their stay at Cal Poly that they decide to settle down either in San Luis, or one of the adjoining cities, so that they can continue to benefit from the ideal climate, the optimistic outlook that comes from people in their 20s, and the sense of community in the area. The overall student attitude is that the time at Cal Poly will definitely become some of the most memorable years of your life.

By The Numbers

General Information:
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)
1 Grand Ave.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407

Control:
State

Academic Calendar:
Quarterly

 Religious Affiliation:
None

Founded:
1901

Web Site:
Main Phone:
(805) 756-1111

Full-Time Undergraduates:
17,843

Part-Time Undergraduates:
999

 Total Male Undergraduates:
10,716

Total Female Undergraduates:
8,126

Overall Acceptance Rate:
45%

Early Decision Acceptance Rate:
23%

Early Action Acceptance Rate:
Not offered

Total Applicants:
30,176

Total Acceptances:
13,520

Freshman Enrollment:
4,369

Yield (% of admitted students who actually enroll):
32%

Early Decision Deadline:
October 31

Early Decision Notification:
December 15

Regular Decision Deadline:
November 30

Must-Reply-By Date:
May 1

Transfer Applications Received:
4,179

Transfer Students Enrolled:
826

 Transfer Application Acceptance Rate:
39%

SAT I or ACT Required?:
Either

SAT I Range (25th–75th Percentile):
1080–1290

SAT I Verbal Range (25th–75th Percentile):
520–620

SAT I Math Range (25th–75th Percentile):
560–670

SAT II Requirements:
None

Freshman Retention Rate:
90%

Top 10% of High School Class:
42%

Application Fee:
$55

Common Application Accepted?:
Yes

Supplemental Forms?:
No

Admissions Phone:
(805) 756-2311

Admissions E-Mail:
Admissions Web Site:
In-State Tuition:
$4,689

Out-of-State Tuition:
$4,689 plus $226 per unit 

Room and Board:
$8,817

Books and Supplies:
$1,386

Average Need-Based Financial Aid Package (including loans, grants, work study, and other sources):
$7,724

 Students Who Applied for Financial Aid:
51%

Applicants Who Received Financial Aid:
64%

Financial Aid Forms Deadline:
The FAFSA deadline is March 2 and the application deadlines for grants and scholarships can be found at the financial aid Web site below.

Financial Aid Phone:
(805) 756-2927

Financial Aid E-Mail:
Financial Aid Web Site:

Write for Us!

Each College Prowler guide is written by a current student on campus. We are currently looking for talented student writers to join our team. Write for us and get published!