US CollegesGetting in
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo admits 31% of those who apply, which makes it selective. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from California | $15,039 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $37,005 |
| Room and meals on campus | $19,443 |
| Books and supplies | $1,119 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $36,515 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $18,832 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 16% below the median net price of colleges in California on this site ($22,336). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $10,354 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $9,975 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $12,476 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $18,082 |
| Above $110,000 | $31,461 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | CA median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 96% | 76% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 87% | 51% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $96,304 | $53,420 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $16,500 | $17,297 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in California and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
23% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 24% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 51% women and 49% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 18 of the 267 colleges in California on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 2,759.
Other colleges in California of a similar size
- California State University-FresnoFresno, public
- University of California-RiversideRiverside, public
- University of the PeoplePasadena, private nonprofit
- University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, public
- University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, private nonprofit
- California State University-Los AngelesLos Angeles, public
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo admits 31% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
Published tuition and fees are $15,039 a year for students from California and $37,005 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
87% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.