California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$6,084

5.96% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$17,453

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

31.3%

68,371 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

23,069

95.4% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

86.4%

3,787 Graduates

About

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a higher education institution located in San Luis Obispo County, CA. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo were General Business Administration & Management (748 degrees awarded), Mechanical Engineering (288 degrees), and Computer Science (219 degrees).

In 2024, 5,571 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. 50.9% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 49.1% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (3,034 degrees), 2.83 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (1,072 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $6,084, which is $−17,916 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,000).

Photo by Rob Bulmahn

Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $6,084, which is $17,916 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,000).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $17,453.

In 2024, 52% of undergraduate students attending California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 25% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$6,084

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo was $6,084. The cost of tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $−17,916 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,000).

This chart compares the tuition costs of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$17,453

2024 Value

3.35%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $17,453. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo grew by 3.35%.

This chart compares the average net price of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$17,631

Room and Board

$1,089

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo was of $17,631 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 7.19% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,089. The cost of books and supplies increased by 20.2% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

52%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

25%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

52% of undergraduate students at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2023, when 52% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo received 68,371 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 7.27% annual growth. Out of those 68,371 applicants, 21,416 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 31.3% acceptance rate.

There were 23,069 students enrolled at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in 2024. 80% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has an overall enrollment yield of 24.6%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

31.3%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

21,416

Accepted Out of 68,371

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo was 31.3% (21,416 admissions from 68,371 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 29.8%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants grew by 7.27%, while admissions grew by 12.9%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

80%

Submission Percentage (2020)

3,831

Scores Submitted (2020)

80% of enrolled first-time students at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in 2020 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo had a total enrollment of 23,069 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is 22,005 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,064. This means that 95.4% of students enrolled at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, both undergraduate and graduate, is 47.8% White, 25% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 8.02% Two or More Races, 0.75% Black or African American, 0.217% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.121% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (25.1%), followed by White Male (23.4%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (12.3%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (27.2%), followed by White Male (26.8%) and Hispanic or Latino Male (10.2%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

95.4%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 23,069 students. The full-time enrollment at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is 22,005 and the part-time enrollment is 1,064. This means that 95.4% of students enrolled at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are enrolled full-time compared with 67.1% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

96%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo was 96%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (73%), California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
11,027 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
5,773 enrolled students
Asian
3,187 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is 47.8% White, 25% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 8.02% Two or More Races, 0.75% Black or African American, 0.217% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.121% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 47.4% White, 18.8% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.6% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 762 students (3.3%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 103 more women than men received degrees from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is white (3,034 degrees awarded). There were 2.83 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (1,072 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is General Business Administration & Management (748 degrees awarded), followed by Mechanical Engineering (288 degrees) and Computer Science (219 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Architecture and Related Services (260 degrees awarded), Agriculture (596 degrees), and Natural Resources & Conservation (197 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Software developers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are Software developers (487,177 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (368,277 people), Other managers (367,138 people), Civil engineers (313,945 people), and Mechanical engineers (219,865 people).

The most specialized majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in 2024 are Architecture and Related Services (260 degrees awarded), Agriculture (596 degrees), Natural Resources & Conservation (197 degrees), Engineering (1,171 degrees), and Communication Technologies (81 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are Surgeons, Agents & business managers of artists, performers, & athletes, Diagnostic medical sonographers, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, and Podiatrists

The most specialized majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are Architecture and Related Services (260 degrees awarded), Agriculture (596 degrees), Natural Resources & Conservation (197 degrees), Engineering (1,171 degrees), and Communication Technologies (81 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Architectural, engineering & related services

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are Architectural, engineering & related services (607,583 people), Computer Systems Design (492,481 people), Construction (371,635 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (231,116 people), and Aircraft & parts manufacturing (189,158 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.

Most Common (2024)

General Business Administration & Management
748 degrees awarded
Mechanical Engineering
288 degrees awarded
Computer Science
219 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo was General Business Administration & Management with 748 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

2,734

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

2,837

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 2,734 degrees were awarded to men at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, which is 0.964 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,837).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 425 degrees were awarded to men at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.21 times more than the 352 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 352 degrees were awarded to men at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.828 times less than the 425 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

60%

100% Completion Time

85%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 60% of students graduating from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 85% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 87% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Male

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is Male and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 3.25% of graduates (123 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
3,034 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
1,072 degrees awarded
Asian
749 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is white (3,034 degrees awarded). There were 2.83 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (1,072 degrees).

3.34% of degree recipients (186 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Male
1,771 degrees awarded
White Female
1,765 degrees awarded
White Female
1,660 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is white male (1,771 degrees awarded). There were 1 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (1,765 degrees).

Operations

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has an endowment valued at nearly $296M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 24.2M (8.15%) compared to the 9.2% average return (4.22M on 45.9M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2024, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo had a total salary expenditure of 789M. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo employs 327 Professors, 273 Lecturers and 197 Assistant professors. Most academics at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are Male Professor (228), Male Lecturer (161), and Female Lecturer (112).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are: Business and Financial Operations, with 317 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 299 employees, and Service with 228 employees.

Endowment

$296M

2024 Endowment

11.8%

growth from 2023

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has an endowment valued at about $296M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo grew 11.8% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $251M higher than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$263M

2024 Salaries

9.62%

growth from 2023

In 2024, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo paid a median of $263M in salaries, which represents 33.3% of their overall expenditure ($789M) and a 9.62% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 8.88% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 3.31% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$115M

Instructional Salaries

989

Number of Employees

In 2024, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo paid a total of $115M to 989 employees working as instructors, which represents 43.6% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $965k (3.13%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo were Business and Financial Operations with 317 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 299 employees, and Service with 228 employees.

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