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California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo at a glance

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public university in San Luis Obispo, California with 23,069 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 31% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published in-state tuition is $13,596 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $16,665 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 86% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 25% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $18,500 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Computer Science, bachelor's ($154,784) and Computer Engineering, bachelor's ($148,950) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).

Tuition

$13,596

2024-25

Acceptance

31%

Fall 2024 applicants

Students

23,069

Fall 2024

Type

University

Setting

Suburban

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition

$13,596

Out-of-State Tuition

$34,665

Avg On-Campus Living

$18,792

Avg Off-Campus Living

$19,155

Financial Aid & Outcomes

College Scorecard

What will it actually cost?

Sticker price: $32,388
Net price (after aid): $16,665

Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.

Net price by family income

$0 – $30k: $7,529
$30k – $48k: $7,253
$48k – $75k: $9,896
$75k – $110k: $15,786
$110k+: $27,772 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)

Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)

For families earning $110k+, the average net price here is above the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow federally from 1 July 2026, by up to $2,272. That part has to come from savings, income, work, or private loans.

The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.

After graduation

Median earnings (10yr): $90,768
Median debt at graduation: $18,500
Est. monthly loan payment: $196

Earnings-to-debt ratio

Strong · 4.9×

Graduates earn about 4.9× their median debt every year.

Financial access

Students on Pell Grants: 19%

Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.

Students with federal loans: 25%

Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.

Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.

How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.

FAFSA earnings check

: Not flagged

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $95,611, above the $36,565 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in California.

This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.

Which California schools are flagged now

Student Outcomes

Graduation Rate

86%

Freshman Retention

96%

Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)

Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.

Scholarships available

Decision support · Cost & value

Quick Decision Highlights

The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.

Aid signal

Strong aid for lower incomes

Reported net price for the $0–30k band runs below average.

Source: IPEDS 2024

Strong post-grad earnings

$90.8k above avg

Manageable graduate debt

$18.5k below avg

Strong completion rate

86% above avg

Affordability snapshot

In-state tuition

$13.6k

Out-of-state

$34.7k

Net price

$16.7k

Pell

19%

Median debt

$18.5k

below avg

Earnings (10y)

$90.8k

above avg

“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.

Admissions

Acceptance rate

31%

SAT range

Institution does not report this

Institution does not report this

ACT range

Institution does not report this

Institution does not report this

Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)

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Location

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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school

Institution does not report this

San Luis Obispo, CA 93407

Academics

Studying online: a small share study entirely online

In Fall 2023, 109 of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's 22,485 students (0%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 8,603 (38%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.

Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.

U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023

Fields of study

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo reported conferring credentials in 75 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.

Campus & Student Life

Area Safety Rating

Decision support

Similar schools

Worth a closer look if California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo caught your interest.

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Graduate earnings by program

What California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduates earn, by program

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's bachelor's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $110,902 four years after graduating, 62% above the $68,257 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $71,876; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $16,633 in federal loans at this college (about $176 a month on a 10-year plan).

71 programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.

Median earnings four years after graduating and median federal debt, by program and credential, for California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
ProgramMedian earnings, 4 yrs afterNational medianFederal debt borrowed at this college (median)Payment
Business Administration, Bachelor's$110,902$68,257, +62%$16,633$176/mo
Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor's$106,750$92,135, +16%$20,500$217/mo
Computer Science, Bachelor's$154,784$107,009, +45%$19,500$207/mo
Animal Sciences, Bachelor's$54,805$49,634, +10%$20,500$217/mo
Biology, Bachelor's$69,854$57,214, +22%$23,000$244/mo
Architectural Sciences and Technology, Bachelor's—$70,074$23,500$249/mo
Electrical Engineering, Bachelor's$125,240$100,647, +24%$23,475$249/mo
Psychology, Bachelor's$60,466$50,706, +19%$18,916$201/mo
Computer Engineering, Bachelor's$148,950$109,015, +37%$20,556$218/mo
Civil Engineering, Bachelor's$101,072$86,517, +17%$20,424$217/mo
Construction Management, Bachelor's$118,331$95,124, +24%$18,500$196/mo
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, Bachelor's$68,965$56,185, +23%$19,500$207/mo

Compare what Business Administration pays at other colleges

What the job pays locally

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.

Show 59 more programs
Median earnings four years after graduating and median federal debt, by program and credential, for California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
ProgramMedian earnings, 4 yrs afterNational medianFederal debt borrowed at this college (median)Payment
Agricultural Business and Management, Bachelor's$88,396$66,647, +33%$16,000$170/mo
Liberal Arts and General Studies, Bachelor's$68,171$53,072, +28%$17,500$186/mo
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Bachelor's$107,498$98,207, +9%$22,500$239/mo
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies, Bachelor's$75,181$50,983, +47%$15,400$163/mo
Food Science and Technology, Bachelor's$75,466$70,873, +6%$19,500$207/mo
Political Science, Bachelor's$81,843$63,293, +29%$17,831$189/mo
Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Bachelor's$109,232$93,451, +17%$20,500$217/mo
Graphic Communications, Bachelor's$79,432$43,283, +84%$17,961$190/mo
Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Bachelor's$64,579$54,562, +18%$15,000$159/mo
Communication, Bachelor's$75,223$56,359, +33%$14,857$158/mo
Industrial Engineering, Bachelor's$112,797$98,442, +15%$19,691$209/mo
Nutrition Sciences, Bachelor's$68,930$60,053, +15%$17,166$182/mo
Sociology, Bachelor's$69,883$52,657, +33%$16,500$175/mo
History, Bachelor's$66,518$50,680, +31%$15,833$168/mo
Mathematics, Bachelor's$83,187$69,562, +20%$16,636$176/mo
Economics, Bachelor's$98,927$82,686, +20%$17,500$186/mo
Fine and Studio Arts, Bachelor's$59,721$41,367, +44%$17,886$190/mo
Journalism, Bachelor's$70,829$56,278, +26%$19,500$207/mo
Teacher Education (by grade level), Bachelor's$55,543$47,382, +17%$18,340$194/mo
English, Bachelor's$63,413$48,590, +31%$23,500$249/mo
Plant Sciences, Bachelor's$82,487$56,567, +46%$15,000$159/mo
Mechanical Engineering, Master's$127,908$115,974, +10%$20,500$233/mo
Materials Engineering, Bachelor's$100,599$91,449, +10%$17,000$180/mo
Management Science, Master's$131,448$124,807, +5%——
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians, Bachelor's$89,195$80,890, +10%$17,272$183/mo
Teacher Education (by subject), Master's$104,117$63,707, +63%——
Civil Engineering, Master's$106,004$98,323, +8%$15,564$177/mo
Physics, Bachelor's$96,805$76,786, +26%$23,886$253/mo
Forestry, Bachelor's$77,419$58,784, +32%$17,333$184/mo
Statistics, Bachelor's$101,353$92,425, +10%$17,939$190/mo
Biochemistry, Bachelor's$78,097$65,466, +19%$17,500$186/mo
Landscape Architecture, Bachelor's$68,795$66,387, +4%$22,583$239/mo
Social Sciences, Other, Bachelor's$57,360$56,812, about the same$16,000$170/mo
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning, Bachelor's$80,820$66,874, +21%$19,334$205/mo
Agricultural Mechanization, Bachelor's$78,080$71,278, +10%——
Business Administration, Master's$108,148$103,485, +5%$20,500$233/mo
Computer Science, Master's$235,241$145,571, +62%——
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering, Bachelor's$102,702$81,171, +27%$20,500$217/mo
Architectural Engineering, Bachelor's$92,767$89,406, +4%$25,000$265/mo
Philosophy, Bachelor's$98,592$54,455, +81%——
Agricultural Public Services, Bachelor's$80,965$54,152, +50%——
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Bachelor's$69,227$60,190, +15%$15,000$159/mo
Agriculture, Bachelor's$84,412$53,676, +57%$21,903$232/mo
Electrical Engineering, Master's$158,977$133,654, +19%——
Chemistry, Bachelor's$63,882$65,120, about the same$15,259$162/mo
Agricultural Engineering, Bachelor's$92,603$84,624, +9%$15,374$163/mo
Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Master's$113,572$106,375, +7%$12,500$142/mo
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Bachelor's—$62,582$21,744$231/mo
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Master's$132,720$122,434, +8%——
Marine Sciences, Bachelor's—$52,667——
Student Counseling, Master's—$60,111——
Psychology, Master's$69,419$64,711, +7%——
Educational Administration, Master's—$71,685——
Theatre, Bachelor's$36,697$39,775, −8%——
Special Education, Master's—$64,397——
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning, Master's$89,909$79,665, +13%——
Accounting, Master's$134,105$95,833, +40%——
Architecture, Bachelor's$76,613$66,914, +14%$27,500$292/mo
Education, Master's$79,570$65,824, +21%——

Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026.

Frequently asked questions

About California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.

Where is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo located?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, CA, in the United States.
What type of institution is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public university based in CA. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
What is the acceptance rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
The most recently reported acceptance rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is approximately 31% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
What is the tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's published in-state tuition is approximately $13,596 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
How many students attend California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo reports total enrollment of approximately 23,069 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
How much does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is approximately $16,665 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $7,529 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $27,772. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
What is the graduation rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo reports a graduation rate of approximately 86% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
How much student debt do graduates of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo have?
Students who borrowed at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo left with a median of approximately $18,500 in federal loans, and about 25% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
How much do graduates of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo earn?
Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $90,768 for students who received federal financial aid at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
How should I verify final details about California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.
How much do Business Administration graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo earn?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's bachelor's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $110,902 four years after graduating, 62% above the $68,257 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $71,876; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $16,633 in federal loans at this college (about $176 a month on a 10-year plan).
How much do Mechanical Engineering graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo earn?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's bachelor's graduates in Mechanical Engineering earned a median $106,750 four years after graduating, 16% above the $92,135 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $83,011; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $20,500 in federal loans at this college (about $217 a month on a 10-year plan). For context, mechanical engineers in California are paid a median $130,900 a year across all experience levels (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), a figure for everyone in the job, not only recent graduates.
Which programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo have the highest graduate earnings?
Among the 46 programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Computer Science, bachelor's ($154,784); Computer Engineering, bachelor's ($148,950); and Electrical Engineering, bachelor's ($125,240) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
Does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $95,611, above the $36,565 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in California, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.

Fields this college awarded credentials in

The 14 largest of 75 fields California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.

Fields California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo reported conferring credentials in during 2024-25, with the number awarded and the highest credential level.
FieldAwardedLevel
Business Administration, Management and Operations818Graduate (41 graduate · 777 bachelor's)
Mechanical Engineering351Graduate (37 graduate · 314 bachelor's)
Computer Science322Graduate (39 graduate · 283 bachelor's)
Biology, General204Graduate (10 graduate · 194 bachelor's)
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering171Graduate (32 graduate · 139 bachelor's)
Civil Engineering165Graduate (26 graduate · 139 bachelor's)
Psychology, General163Graduate (16 graduate · 147 bachelor's)
Agricultural Business and Management161Bachelor's
Animal Sciences158Bachelor's
Architectural Sciences and Technology146Bachelor's
Biomedical/Medical Engineering133Graduate (25 graduate · 108 bachelor's)
Construction Management131Bachelor's
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy118Bachelor's
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering114Graduate (13 graduate · 101 bachelor's)

Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.

Data sources & methodology

Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.

Facts on this profile of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.

Sources used across this page

Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.

Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.

Suggested citation

CampusPin. (2024). California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo

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