Cal Poly Rankings and Evaluation
California Colleges
#23 in California Colleges
Federal Region IX
#3 in Federal Region IX
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is ranked 23rd in California Colleges and 3rd in Federal Region IX.
The following statements evaluate California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo by comparing key academic facts to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
- Its tuition & fees of $30,995 is expensive compared to similar schools.
- The acceptance rate (30%) is lower (difficult to get in).
- It has average number of students of 22,000.
- It offers average (132 programs).
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
The 2024 undergraduate tuition & fees of Cal Poly are $30,995 (out-of-state rate) and it is expensive compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo $30,995
All U.S. Colleges $17,692
Public, 4-Years Colleges $18,895
4-Years Colleges $22,926
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California $20,072
Graduate Tuition & Fees
The 2024 graduate tuition & fees of Cal Poly are $22,013 (out-of-state rate) and it is average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo $22,013
All U.S. Colleges $18,842
Public, 4-Years Colleges $20,343
4-Years Colleges $18,848
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California $21,760
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate of Cal Poly is 30% and it is lower (difficult to get in) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 30%
All U.S. Colleges 69%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 72%
4-Years Colleges 68%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 58%
Yield (Enrollment Rate)
The yield, also known as enrollment rate, of Cal Poly is 28% and the yield is average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 28%
All U.S. Colleges 37%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 32%
4-Years Colleges 35%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 20%
Graduation Rate
The average graduation rate at Cal Poly is 85% and it is extremely higher (most students completed in-time) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 85%
All U.S. Colleges 56%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 48%
4-Years Colleges 51%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 54%
Transfer-out Rate
The average transfer-out rate at Cal Poly is 1% and it is much lower (most first-time students continue to attend) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 1%
All U.S. Colleges 21%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 23%
4-Years Colleges 24%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 8%
Retention Rate
The average retention rate at Cal Poly is 94% and it is average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 94%
All U.S. Colleges 69%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 74%
4-Years Colleges 73%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 85%
Student Population
The total student population at Cal Poly is 22,000 and its population average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 22,000
All U.S. Colleges 2,931
Public, 4-Years Colleges 11,396
4-Years Colleges 4,686
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 20,004
Financial Aid Amount
The average amount of financial aid received at Cal Poly is $7,853 which is 25.34% of tuition & fees. The rate of the financial aid over its tuition is lower compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo $7,853
All U.S. Colleges $7,676
Public, 4-Years Colleges $7,301
4-Years Colleges $12,161
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California $9,399
Student to Faculty Ratio
The students to faculty ratio at Cal Poly is 20 to 1 and the ratio is lower (small size classes) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 20 to 1
All U.S. Colleges 15 to 1
Public, 4-Years Colleges 17 to 1
4-Years Colleges 14 to 1
Public, 4-Years Colleges in California 24 to 1
Number of Programs
Cal Poly offers 132 programs and it means average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California.