California Polytechnic State University--San Luis Obispo logo

Global rank #1278

California Polytechnic State University--San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, United States

About

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) is a public university in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States, outside of the city limits of San Luis Obispo. Founded in 1901, it is the oldest of three polytechnic universities within the California State University system. Cal Poly emphasizes a "learn by doing" philosophy, integrating hands-on, practical experiences into its curriculum. As of fall 2025, Cal Poly had approximately 22,000 undergraduate and 900 graduate students. The university is home to several programs, including in engineering, architecture, and business. Most of the university's athletic teams participate in the Big West Conference.

Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Key facts

Global rank
#1278
Location
San Luis Obispo, United States
Type
Public
Admission rate
30%
English test
Required
How to apply
Own portal

Outcomes and costs

Official figures from US College Scorecard, US Department of Education. Salaries are for all graduates, not only international students.

Median salary 10 years after starting
$90,768 a year
Median salary 6 years after starting
$72,358 a year
Graduation rate (within 6 years)
86%
Students returning for a second year
96%
Tuition (out-of-state, per year)
$34,665
Average cost of attendance (per year)
$32,265
Undergraduate students
21,996
Students per faculty member
19 to 1
Median debt at graduation
$18,500

Programmes

Showing 1 of 1 programmes.

Undergraduate · Undergraduate (all majors)

Undergraduate admission (all majors)

Tuition per year
USD 34,665 (Latest College Scorecard)
Duration
48 months
Apply through
Own portal

Deadline: Most regular decision deadlines fall between 1 November and 15 January. Check the official admissions page.

· verified 14/9/2026

Scholarships you could use here

  • Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships · USIEF (United States-India Educational Foundation)

    Indian citizens with a bachelor's (minimum 55%) or master's degree and at least three years of relevant full-time work experience, without a US degree. Government of India employees are not eligible.

    The last published cycle (2026-2027) closed on 14 May 2025. A 2027-2028 master's cycle is not currently listed.

    Official page
  • Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships · USIEF

    Indian scholars registered for a PhD at an Indian institution, for 6 to 9 months of research in the US.

    The 2027-2028 cycle closed on 1 July 2026.

    Official page
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