California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · West
- Acceptance rate
- 31.3%
- Cost after aid
- $16,665
- Graduation rate
- 86%
What California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo says matters
How California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo rates each admissions factor in its Common Data Set, with the full published numbers below.
- Acceptance rate
- 30%
- 21,367 of 71,309
- Yield
- 26%
- 5,456 enrolled
- SAT mid-50
- 1240-1420
- ACT mid-50
- 28-33
- CDS year
- 2025-26
Acceptance rate by gender
- Men
- 26%8,812 of 34,449
- Women
- 34%12,061 of 35,349
The full Common Data Set
Every figure California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo published for 2025-26, section by section.
First-Time, First-Year Admission47
Entrance Exams
- ACT
- X
- AP
- X
- Institutional Exam
- X
Applications
- Total first-time, first-year males who applied
- 34,449
- Total first-time, first-year females who applied
- 35,349
- Total first-time, first-year males who were admitted
- 8,812
- Total first-time, first-year females who were admitted
- 12,061
- Total full-time, first-time, first-year males who enrolled
- 2,410
- Total part-time, first-time, first-year males who enrolled
- 6
- Total full-time, first-time, first-year females who enrolled
- 2,918
- Total part-time, first-time, first-year females who enrolled
- 6
- Total first-time, first-year students who applied
- 71,309
- Total first-time, first-year students who were admitted
- 21,367
- Total first-time, first-year students who enrolled
- 5,456
- Total first-time, first-year who applied
- 63,520
- Total first-time, first-year who were admitted
- 16,743
- Total first-time, first-year who enrolled
- 4,368
- Total first-time, first-year who applied
- 7,109
- Total first-time, first-year who were admitted
- 4,413
- Total first-time, first-year who enrolled
- 1,055
- Total first-time, first-year who applied
- 680
- Total first-time, first-year who were admitted
- 211
- Total first-time, first-year who enrolled
- 33
First-time, first-year Profile
- Percent Submitting SAT Scores
- 18%
- Percent Submitting ACT Scores
- 4.6%
- Number Submitting SAT Scores
- 995
- Number Submitting ACT Scores
- 251
- SAT Composite: 25th Percentile
- 1,240
- SAT Composite: 50th Percentile
- 1,330
- SAT Composite: 75th Percentile
- 1,420
- SAT Math: 25th Percentile
- 610
- SAT Math: 50th Percentile
- 660
- SAT Math: 75th Percentile
- 720
- ACT Composite: 25th Percentile
- 28%
- ACT Composite: 50th Percentile
- 31%
- ACT Composite: 75th Percentile
- 33%
- ACT Math: 25th Percentile
- 26%
- ACT Math: 50th Percentile
- 29%
- ACT Math: 75th Percentile
- 32%
- ACT English: 25th Percentile
- 27%
- ACT English: 50th Percentile
- 32%
- ACT English: 75th Percentile
- 34%
- ACT Composite: Total
- 100
- Average high school GPA of all degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students who submitted GPA:
- 4.03
Admission Policies
- Can it be waived for applicants with financial need?
- Yes
- Are first-time, first-year students accepted for terms other than the fall?
- Yes
- If yes, maximum period of postponement:
- -
Transfer Admission1
Application for Admission
- Must a transfer applicant have a minimum number of credits completed or else must apply as an entering first-year student?
- Yes
Academic Offerings and Policies1
Special Study Options
- Other (specify):
- X
Student Life26
Activities Offered
- Campus Ministries
- X
- Choral groups
- X
- Concert band
- X
- Dance
- X
- Drama/theater
- X
- International Student Organization
- X
- Jazz band
- X
- Literary magazine
- X
- Marching band
- X
- Model UN
- X
- Music ensembles
- X
- Musical theater
- X
- Opera
- X
- Pep band
- X
- Radio station
- X
- Student government
- X
- Student newspaper
- X
- Student-run film society
- X
- Symphony orchestra
- X
- Television station
- X
Housing
- Coed residence halls
- X
- Apartments for single students
- X
- Special housing for disabled students
- X
- Wellness housing
- X
- Living Learning Communities
- X
- Other housing options (specify):
- X
Disciplinary Areas of Degrees Conferred1
Diploma/Certificates
- TOTAL (should = 100%)
- 100%
Enrollment And Persistence53
Institutional Enrollment
- Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: males
- 2,410
- Other first-year, degree-seeking: males
- 143
- All other degree-seeking: males
- 7,708
- Total degree-seeking: males
- 10,261
- Total undergraduate Full-Time Students: males
- 10,275
- Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: males
- 116
- Other first-year, degree-seeking: males
- 6
- All other degree-seeking: males
- 405
- Total degree-seeking: males
- 417
- Total undergraduate Part-Time Students: males
- 172
- Degree-seeking, first-time: males
- 207
- All other degree-seeking: males
- 151
- All other graduates enrolled in credit courses: males
- 10
- Degree-seeking, first-time: males
- 24
- All other degree-seeking: males
- 73
- All other graduates enrolled in credit courses: males
- 2
- Total graduate Part-Time Students: males
- 99
- Total All Full-Time Students: Males
- 10,643
- Total All Part-Tim Students: Males
- 517
- Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: females
- 2,918
- Other first-year, degree-seeking: females
- 101
- All other degree-seeking: females
- 8,082
- Total degree-seeking: females
- 11,101
- Total undergraduate Full-Time Students: females
- 11,117
- Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: females
- 6
- Other first-year, degree-seeking: females
- 7
- All other degree-seeking: females
- 315
- Total degree-seeking: females
- 328
- Total undergraduate Part-Time Students: females
- 328
- Degree-seeking, first-time: females
- 149
- All other degree-seeking: females
- 88
- All other graduates enrolled in credit courses: females
- 84
- Degree-seeking, first-time: females
- 51
- All other degree-seeking: females
- 82
- All other graduates enrolled in credit courses: females
- 2
- Total graduate Part-Time Students: females
- 135
- Total Full-Time Students: Females
- 11,438
- Total Part-Tim Students: Females
- 463
- All other degree-seeking: Unknown
- 56
- Total degree-seeking: Unknown
- 172
- All other degree-seeking: Unknown
- 3
- Total degree-seeking: Unknown
- 3
- Degree-seeking, first-time: Unknown
- 5
- Degree-seeking, first-time: Unknown
- 3
- Total graduate Part-Time Students: Unknown
- 4
- Total Full-Time Students: Unknown
- 177
- Total Part-Time Students: Unknown
- 7
- Total all undergraduates
- 22,313
- Total all graduate
- 932
- Grand Total All Students
- 23,245
All
- Total graduate Full-Time Students: males
- 368
- Total graduate Full-Time Students: females
- 321
- Total graduate Full-Time Students: Unknown
- 5
About California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a large public university in San Luis Obispo, CA, in a city setting.
What California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo looks for
With an acceptance rate around 31%, the application readers spend less time per file than they do at the most selective schools, but they still read. A solid GPA, strong letters, and an essay that sounds like you wrote it yourself go a long way here. The biggest unforced error: a generic supplement essay. Even moderately selective schools notice when you have not bothered to learn anything about them.
Frequently asked
What is the acceptance rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo admits roughly 31% of applicants. Selective, but stats inside the middle 50% put you in real contention.
What does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo actually cost after financial aid?
Average net cost (after institutional aid) is about $16,665 per year. Net cost varies enormously by family income; run the school's net price calculator for an estimate that reflects your situation.
Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo a reach, match, or safety for me?
Compare your stats to the middle 50% above. If you are at or below the 25th percentile, treat California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo as a reach. If you are in the middle 50%, it is a match. Above the 75th percentile and the school accepts above 25% overall, it is closer to a safety. Selectivity below 20% should be treated as a reach for everyone, period.
