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California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, graduation rate, and graduate salary · San Luis Obispo, California

Net price / year

$16,665

after grants & scholarships

higher than 74% of public 4-year colleges

Acceptance rate

31%

Graduation rate

86%

within 150% of normal time

higher than 97% of public 4-year colleges

Median earnings

$90,662

4 years after graduating

higher than 98% of public 4-year colleges

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo at a glance

What is the tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $13,596 for the 2024-25 academic year, or $34,665 for out-of-state students.
What is the cost of attendance at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
The average cost of attendance is $32,265 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
What is the net price at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
The average net price for in-state students is $16,665 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
About 31% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo test optional?
Test policy reported to the federal government: Tests neither required nor recommended.
What is the graduation rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
86% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
How much do graduates of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo earn?
The median graduate earns $90,662 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).

Key takeaways

  • Graduates earn a median $90,662 four years after finishing, more than 98% of public 4-year colleges.
  • 86% of students graduate on time or within 150% of normal time, higher than 97% of public 4-year colleges.
  • The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.2 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
  • Families earning under $30,000 pay about $7,529 a year on average, versus $27,772 for families earning over $110,000.
  • At $16,665 a year, the average net price is higher than 74% of public 4-year colleges.

Tuition and cost of attendance at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Average net price (in-state)

$16,665 per year

Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.

Estimate your own price with the California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo net price calculator ↗

Estimated total net cost

$66,660

Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.

Net price by family income

Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.

  1. $0–30k $7,529
  2. $30–48k $7,253
  3. $48–75k $9,896
  4. $75–110k $15,786
  5. $110k+ $27,772

Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $32,265

  • Tuition & fees$13,596
  • Books & supplies$1,119
  • Room & board$18,792
  • Other expenses$3,069
Tuition & fees (in-state)
$13,596
Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
$34,665

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo acceptance rate and admissions

Acceptance rate

Share of applicants admitted.

Test policy: Tests neither required nor recommended

Graduation rate and salary after graduating from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Graduation rate

86%

First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.

Retention rate

95%

Full-time first-years who return the next fall.

Typical monthly payment

$196

On a standard 10-year federal plan.

Years of earnings premium to cover cost

1.2 years

Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.

Earnings vs debt

Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.

Debt-to-earnings
0.2×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Share of pay going to loans
2.6%
3-year loan default rate
0%

Outcomes by student group

The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.

Completion within 150% of normal time, by group

Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).

Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).

Earnings ten years after entry

All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.

Typical range: middle half of students

25th percentile $58,977 · median $90,768 · 75th percentile $132,118

This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.

Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).

Median federal student debt, by group

Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.

Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).

How borrowers are doing

One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 5,140 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.

Repayment status one year after entering repayment

  • Paid in full 22%
  • Making progress 17%
  • Not making progress 7%
  • Delinquent 1%
  • Default 0%
  • Forbearance 43%
  • Deferment 8%
  • Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
Paid in full:
The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
Making progress:
Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
Not making progress:
The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
Delinquent:
Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
Default:
The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
Forbearance:
Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
Deferment:
Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
Discharged:
The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.

5,140 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).

Programs and majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranked by earnings

ProgramEarnings, 4 yrs afterEarnings over timeCompared with the U.S. median for this fieldMedian debt

Computer Science

Bachelor's · Graduates: 151

$154,784 1 yr$111,1414 yrs$154,784

U.S. median $107,009

U.S. middle half $74.8K–$152K · Above the U.S. median

$19,500

Computer Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 155

$148,950 1 yr$111,5604 yrs$148,9505 yrs$146,406

U.S. median $109,015

U.S. middle half $86.3K–$145.2K · Above the U.S. median

$20,556

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 118

$125,240 1 yr$90,5764 yrs$125,2405 yrs$116,692

U.S. median $100,647

U.S. middle half $84.6K–$122.4K · Above the U.S. median

$23,475

Construction Management

Bachelor's · Graduates: 96

$118,331 1 yr$92,7854 yrs$118,331

U.S. median $95,124

U.S. middle half $77.1K–$115.2K · Above the U.S. median

$18,500

Industrial Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 78

$112,797 1 yr$87,2264 yrs$112,7975 yrs$121,125

U.S. median $98,442

U.S. middle half $81.2K–$121.7K · Above the U.S. median

$19,691

Business Administration, Management and Operations

Bachelor's · Graduates: 555

$110,902 1 yr$71,8764 yrs$110,9025 yrs$102,603

U.S. median $68,257

U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Above the U.S. median

$16,633

Biomedical/Medical Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 83

$109,232 1 yr$81,1864 yrs$109,2325 yrs$111,260

U.S. median $93,451

U.S. middle half $74.1K–$113.9K · Above the U.S. median

$20,500

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 94

$107,498 1 yr$85,5094 yrs$107,4985 yrs$112,671

U.S. median $98,207

U.S. middle half $81.6K–$115.9K · Above the U.S. median

$22,500

Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 211

$106,750 1 yr$83,0114 yrs$106,7505 yrs$110,675

U.S. median $92,135

U.S. middle half $77.7K–$109.1K · Above the U.S. median

$20,500

Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 41

$102,702 1 yr$82,1974 yrs$102,7025 yrs$86,311

U.S. median $81,171

U.S. middle half $68.9K–$95.2K · Above the U.S. median

$20,500
Show all 52 programs

Statistics

Bachelor's · Graduates: 34

$101,353 4 yrs$101,3535 yrs$97,279

U.S. median $92,425

U.S. middle half $64.6K–$125.5K · Above the U.S. median

$17,939

Civil Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 185

$101,072 1 yr$80,6734 yrs$101,0725 yrs$101,618

U.S. median $86,517

U.S. middle half $73.9K–$101.2K · Above the U.S. median

$20,424

Materials Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample

$100,599 1 yr$74,4964 yrs$100,5995 yrs$107,726

U.S. median $91,449

U.S. middle half $76.7K–$109.2K · Above the U.S. median

$17,000

Economics

Bachelor's · Graduates: 50

$98,927 1 yr$67,5014 yrs$98,9275 yrs$89,394

U.S. median $82,686

U.S. middle half $58.2K–$116.3K · Above the U.S. median

$17,500

Philosophy

Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample

$98,592 —

U.S. median $54,455

U.S. middle half $34.9K–$78K · Above the U.S. median

—

Physics

Bachelor's · Graduates: 26 Small sample

$96,805 4 yrs$96,8055 yrs$114,864

U.S. median $76,786

U.S. middle half $51.8K–$102.9K · Above the U.S. median

$23,886

Architectural Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 73

$92,767 1 yr$80,4814 yrs$92,7675 yrs$97,098

U.S. median $89,406

U.S. middle half $77K–$103.1K · Above the U.S. median

$25,000

Agricultural Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 40

$92,603 1 yr$72,7134 yrs$92,6035 yrs$89,957

U.S. median $84,624

U.S. middle half $67.9K–$103.9K · Above the U.S. median

$15,374

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians

Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample

$89,195 1 yr$78,9384 yrs$89,195

U.S. median $80,890

U.S. middle half $61.2K–$99.3K · Above the U.S. median

$17,272

Agricultural Business and Management

Bachelor's · Graduates: 114

$88,396 1 yr$52,7784 yrs$88,3965 yrs$93,186

U.S. median $66,647

U.S. middle half $48.6K–$90.4K · Above the U.S. median

$16,000

Agriculture, General

Bachelor's · Graduates: 36

$84,412 1 yr$64,7864 yrs$84,4125 yrs$68,350

U.S. median $53,676

U.S. middle half $39K–$70.6K · Above the U.S. median

$21,903

Mathematics

Bachelor's · Graduates: 39

$83,187 1 yr$53,1364 yrs$83,1875 yrs$78,202

U.S. median $69,562

U.S. middle half $49.1K–$97.4K · Above the U.S. median

$16,636

Plant Sciences

Bachelor's · Graduates: 52

$82,487 1 yr$63,1294 yrs$82,4875 yrs$74,094

U.S. median $56,567

U.S. middle half $41.8K–$73.9K · Above the U.S. median

$15,000

Political Science and Government

Bachelor's · Graduates: 71

$81,843 1 yr$37,0034 yrs$81,8435 yrs$90,264

U.S. median $63,293

U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Above the U.S. median

$17,831

Agricultural Public Services

Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample

$80,965 1 yr$54,5834 yrs$80,965

U.S. median $54,152

U.S. middle half $40.4K–$73.3K · Above the U.S. median

—

City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning

Bachelor's · Graduates: 31

$80,820 1 yr$47,8324 yrs$80,820

U.S. median $66,874

U.S. middle half $50.1K–$86.4K · Above the U.S. median

$19,334

Graphic Communications

Bachelor's · Graduates: 75

$79,432 1 yr$49,0294 yrs$79,4325 yrs$87,135

U.S. median $43,283

U.S. middle half $27.2K–$64.3K · Above the U.S. median

$17,961

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology

Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample

$78,097 1 yr$57,5384 yrs$78,0975 yrs$72,627

U.S. median $65,466

U.S. middle half $44.9K–$88.4K · Above the U.S. median

$17,500

Agricultural Mechanization

Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample

$78,080 1 yr$73,0534 yrs$78,080

U.S. median $71,278

U.S. middle half $51.6K–$89K · Above the U.S. median

—

Forestry

Bachelor's · Graduates: 27 Small sample

$77,419 1 yr$55,0924 yrs$77,4195 yrs$73,077

U.S. median $58,784

U.S. middle half $44.9K–$73.1K · Above the U.S. median

$17,333

Architecture

Bachelor's · Graduates: 129

$76,613 1 yr$60,6344 yrs$76,6135 yrs$77,718

U.S. median $66,914

U.S. middle half $54.2K–$78.6K · Above the U.S. median

$27,500

Food Science and Technology

Bachelor's · Graduates: 92

$75,466 1 yr$52,2404 yrs$75,4665 yrs$82,237

U.S. median $70,873

U.S. middle half $54.1K–$88.2K · Above the U.S. median

$19,500

Communication and Media Studies

Bachelor's · Graduates: 44

$75,223 1 yr$62,1834 yrs$75,2235 yrs$67,009

U.S. median $56,359

U.S. middle half $39.6K–$76.1K · Above the U.S. median

$14,857

Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies

Bachelor's · Graduates: 54

$75,181 1 yr$39,1574 yrs$75,181

U.S. median $50,983

U.S. middle half $37.1K–$67.2K · Above the U.S. median

$15,400

Journalism

Bachelor's · Graduates: 64

$70,829 1 yr$48,6374 yrs$70,8295 yrs$67,804

U.S. median $56,278

U.S. middle half $40.6K–$73.9K · Above the U.S. median

$19,500

Sociology

Bachelor's · Graduates: 50

$69,883 1 yr$30,4014 yrs$69,8835 yrs$75,585

U.S. median $52,657

U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Above the U.S. median

$16,500

Biology, General

Bachelor's · Graduates: 130

$69,854 1 yr$35,6384 yrs$69,8545 yrs$73,422

U.S. median $57,214

U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Above the U.S. median

$23,000

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

Bachelor's · Graduates: 45

$69,227 1 yr$48,4894 yrs$69,227

U.S. median $60,190

U.S. middle half $44.3K–$77.6K · Above the U.S. median

$15,000

Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy

Bachelor's · Graduates: 55

$68,965 1 yr$37,1264 yrs$68,9655 yrs$69,368

U.S. median $56,185

U.S. middle half $41.3K–$74.7K · Above the U.S. median

$19,500

Nutrition Sciences

Bachelor's · Graduates: 71

$68,930 1 yr$22,6754 yrs$68,930

U.S. median $60,053

U.S. middle half $43.2K–$76.8K · Above the U.S. median

$17,166

Landscape Architecture

Bachelor's · Graduates: 40

$68,795 1 yr$58,3314 yrs$68,7955 yrs$61,334

U.S. median $66,387

U.S. middle half $52.1K–$78.6K · Above the U.S. median

$22,583

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

Bachelor's · Graduates: 82

$68,171 1 yr$35,0564 yrs$68,1715 yrs$64,390

U.S. median $53,072

U.S. middle half $35.8K–$73.3K · Above the U.S. median

$17,500

History

Bachelor's · Graduates: 44

$66,518 1 yr$31,5404 yrs$66,5185 yrs$58,207

U.S. median $50,680

U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Above the U.S. median

$15,833

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

Bachelor's · Graduates: 71

$64,579 1 yr$30,4724 yrs$64,579

U.S. median $54,562

U.S. middle half $39K–$73K · Above the U.S. median

$15,000

Chemistry

Bachelor's · Graduates: 21 Small sample

$63,882 —

U.S. median $65,120

U.S. middle half $48.3K–$84K · Below the U.S. median

$15,259

English Language and Literature, General

Bachelor's · Graduates: 51

$63,413 1 yr$34,7184 yrs$63,4135 yrs$64,041

U.S. median $48,590

U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Above the U.S. median

$23,500

Psychology, General

Bachelor's · Graduates: 83

$60,466 1 yr$23,7444 yrs$60,4665 yrs$65,762

U.S. median $50,706

U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Above the U.S. median

$18,916

Fine and Studio Arts

Bachelor's · Graduates: 56

$59,721 1 yr$36,0064 yrs$59,7215 yrs$87,876

U.S. median $41,367

U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Above the U.S. median

$17,886

Social Sciences, Other

Bachelor's · Graduates: 31

$57,360 1 yr$28,9314 yrs$57,3605 yrs$45,522

U.S. median $56,812

U.S. middle half $39.7K–$77.7K · Above the U.S. median

$16,000

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

Bachelor's · Graduates: 45

$55,543 1 yr$22,2934 yrs$55,5435 yrs$54,410

U.S. median $47,382

U.S. middle half $38.4K–$56.1K · Above the U.S. median

$18,340

Animal Sciences

Bachelor's · Graduates: 118

$54,805 1 yr$33,8794 yrs$54,8055 yrs$62,117

U.S. median $49,634

U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.9K · Above the U.S. median

$20,500

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample

$36,697 —

U.S. median $39,775

U.S. middle half $25.5K–$55.4K · Below the U.S. median

—

Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.

The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.

The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.

Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.

What students study

The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.

Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field

A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).

Who attends

A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.

Race and ethnicity

  • White 47.6%
  • Black or African American 0.8%
  • Hispanic or Latino 25.3%
  • Asian 14%
  • American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.2%
  • Two or more races 8.1%
  • U.S. nonresident 0.7%
  • Race and ethnicity unknown 3.3%

Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).

Gender

  • Men 49.2%
  • Women 50.8%

Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).

Students aged 25 or older

2%

of undergraduates

Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).

Students and campus

Undergraduate enrollment
21,996
Part-time students
3%
Receive Pell Grants
19%
Receive federal loans
25%
Students per faculty member
19 : 1
Setting
Suburb

Similar colleges

Schools of a similar type, price, size and outcomes.

Where it ranks

This college appears in the top 50 of these TuitionScope rankings.

Guides worth reading

Plain-language explainers that help you read the numbers on this page.

More in California

Frequently asked questions

How much is tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?

For the 2024-25 academic year, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $13,596 for in-state students and $34,665 for out-of-state students. These are published prices before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.

What is the cost of attendance and net price at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?

The average cost of attendance at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $32,265 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $16,665 a year. That is higher than 74% of public 4-year colleges.

How much financial aid do students at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo get?

19% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 25% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $7,529 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $27,772 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).

What is the acceptance rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo admitted about 31% of applicants in fall 2024. That makes admission selective.

What are the graduation rate and retention rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?

86% of first-time, full-time students at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo finish within 150% of normal time. 95% of full-time first-years return the next fall.

How much do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduates earn after graduation?

The median graduate earns $90,662 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $62,831.

Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo worth it?

There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.2 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $18,500, about 0.2 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 86% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.

How much debt do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduates have?

Graduates who borrowed have a median federal-loan debt of $18,500, or about $196 a month on a 10-year plan.

Sources and data periods

All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:

  • Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
  • Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
  • Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
  • Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
  • Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts

Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things