California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
School Background
2022 Undergraduate Enrollment: 21,090
Graduate Enrollment: 1,103
Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Highest degree awarded:
Graduate
Asian American/Native American/Pacific Islander institution
Religious Affiliation:
None
Campus Details
Suburb: Small (outside principal city, in urbanized area with population less than 100,000)
Four-year, large, primarily residential
//
full-time, more selective, lower transfer-in
Applicant and Admittance Traits
2022 Admission Rate: 33%
Male/Female: 50% / 50% (2017)
First generation college students: 24.8% (2017)
Percentage of students who are married when enrolled: 1.2% (2017)
Percentage of students who are veterans: 0.2% (2016)
Test scores for admission: Neither required or recommended
Appliants applying to 2+ schools: 80.1% (2017)
Appliants applying to 3+ schools: 74.9% (2017)
Appliants applying to 4+ schools: 69.9% (2017)
Appliants applying to 5+ schools: 63.5% (2017)
Ethnicity Information
White: 53.0%
Black: 0.7%
Hispanic: 19.4%
Asian: 13.7%
American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.1%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.2%
2+ races: 7.6%
Non-resident alien: 2.0%
Unknown race: 3.2%
Black: 0.7%
Hispanic: 19.4%
Asian: 13.7%
American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.1%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.2%
2+ races: 7.6%
Non-resident alien: 2.0%
Unknown race: 3.2%
Costs & Fees
2022 Average Tuition & Fees (Room/Board/Books): $28,843
In-State tuition: $10,195Out-of-State tuition: $28,105
Estimated books and supplies: $909 (2022)
Estimated on-campus room & board: $16,332 (2022)
Estimated on-campus other fees: $2,244 (2022)
Estimated off-campus room & board: $16,332 (2022)
Estimated off-campus other fees: $2,244 (2022)
Average Family Income: $99,986 (2017)
Median Family Income: $74,513 (2017)
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Percentage of students receiving Pell Grant: 16.3%Percentage of students with Federal Loans: 22.8%
Median federal loan debt at graduation: $18,500 (2021)
Median federal loan payment: $196 (2021)
| Household Income | Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0-$30k | $11,885 |
| $30k-48k | $12,855 |
| $48k-75k | $17,778 |
| $75k-110k | $22,753 |
| $110k+ | $27,750 |
Graduate Outcomes & Job Placements
4-year graduation rate: 57%6-year graduation rate: 85%
1 year post-graduation workforce participation: 96.6% (2020)
Loans
Median federal debt for graduates: $18,500 (2021)Median federal debt for non-graduates: $9,166 (2021)
Median federal debt for first-generation graduates: $15,095 (2021)
Median federal debt for Pell grant recipient graduates: $16,446 (2021)
Ability to Repay Loans
| Graduates, % of Loans in Repayment (Non-delinquent/default) |
Percentage |
|---|---|
| @1 Year | 88.3% (2015) |
| @3 year | 91.5% (2017) |
| @5 year | 93.1% (2017) |
1-year Graduate % of Loans being Repaid (Non-delinquent/default) - Pell Grant Recipients: 78.4% (2015)
1-year Graduate % of Loans being Repaid - 1st Generation Attendees: 80.6% (2015)
Earnings Power
Median earnings, 1 year post graduation: $59,889 (2020)Median earnings, 4 years post graduation: $76,958 (2020)
Popular Majors
| Type of Degree | Major | 2022 Graduates | Median Federal Debt | Median Monthly Payment | 1yr Median Earnings (monthly gross) | 4yr Median Earnings (monthly gross) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | Agricultural Business and Management. | 181 | $14,500 | $170 | $56,609 ($4,717) | $78,364 ($6,530) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | 19 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Communication and Media Studies. | 52 | $14,928 | $158 | $57,429 ($4,786) | $60,521 ($5,043) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Journalism. | 89 | $19,333 | $207 | $43,599 ($3,633) | $54,626 ($4,552) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Graphic Communications. | 100 | $17,961 | $190 | $48,045 ($4,004) | $67,063 ($5,589) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Computer Science. | 169 | $19,298 | $207 | $102,789 ($8,566) | |
| Master's Degree | Computer Science. | 27 | $154,055 ($12,838) | |||
| Master's Degree | Education, General. | 24 | $62,594 ($5,216) | $66,655 ($5,555) | ||
| Master's Degree | Special Education and Teaching. | 14 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Student Counseling and Personnel Services. | 13 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | 56 | $18,090 | $194 | $30,570 ($2,548) | $41,707 ($3,476) |
| Master's Degree | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | 33 | $72,754 ($6,063) | |||
| Master's Degree | Engineering, General. | 19 | $104,099 ($8,675) | |||
| Master's Degree | Biology, General. | 17 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Mechanical Engineering. | 264 | $20,500 | $217 | $78,866 ($6,572) | $97,466 ($8,122) |
| Master's Degree | Mechanical Engineering. | 23 | $233 | $102,941 ($8,578) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Industrial Engineering. | 95 | $19,691 | $209 | $78,789 ($6,566) | $103,886 ($8,657) |
| Master's Degree | Industrial Engineering. | 7 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Manufacturing Engineering. | 11 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Engineering, Other. | 3 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. | 48 | $18,250 | $183 | $72,049 ($6,004) | |
| Master's Degree | Engineering-Related Fields. | 2 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. | 4 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | 1 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | English Language and Literature, General. | 70 | $23,956 | $249 | $26,657 ($2,221) | $50,644 ($4,220) |
| Master's Degree | English Language and Literature, General. | 5 | $45,749 ($3,812) | |||
| Bachelor's Degree | Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | 128 | $17,500 | $186 | $55,078 ($4,590) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Biology, General. | 241 | $22,949 | $244 | $32,714 ($2,726) | $63,237 ($5,270) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | 51 | $17,500 | $186 | $51,845 ($4,320) | $56,972 ($4,748) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Microbiological Sciences and Immunology. | 38 | $22,138 | $231 | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Mathematics. | 66 | $16,718 | $176 | $51,324 ($4,277) | $65,655 ($5,471) |
| Master's Degree | Mathematics. | 9 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Statistics. | 33 | $17,939 | $190 | $65,758 ($5,480) | $83,452 ($6,954) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Nutrition Sciences. | 80 | $17,620 | $182 | $28,155 ($2,346) | |
| Master's Degree | Nutrition Sciences. | 3 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Marine Sciences. | 15 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies. | 89 | $16,369 | $163 | $38,369 ($3,197) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | 127 | $16,666 | $159 | $29,723 ($2,477) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Philosophy. | 29 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Chemistry. | 30 | $15,259 | $162 | $42,738 ($3,562) | |
| Master's Degree | Chemistry. | 5 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | 49 | $15,000 | $159 | $40,136 ($3,345) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Physics. | 32 | $23,000 | $253 | $88,601 ($7,383) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Psychology, General. | 124 | $20,000 | $201 | $27,508 ($2,292) | $48,589 ($4,049) |
| Master's Degree | Psychology, General. | 13 | $45,620 ($3,802) | $75,570 ($6,298) | ||
| Master's Degree | Fire Protection. | 9 | $117,125 ($9,760) | |||
| Master's Degree | Public Policy Analysis. | 9 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | History. | 59 | $17,627 | $168 | $29,825 ($2,485) | $53,071 ($4,423) |
| Master's Degree | History. | 10 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Agriculture, General. | 27 | $21,903 | $232 | $51,069 ($4,256) | $57,972 ($4,831) |
| Master's Degree | Agriculture, General. | 16 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Landscape Architecture. | 35 | $22,433 | $239 | $55,494 ($4,625) | $58,474 ($4,873) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. | 96 | $22,500 | $239 | $79,348 ($6,612) | $101,270 ($8,439) |
| Master's Degree | Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. | 16 | $96,343 ($8,029) | |||
| Bachelor's Degree | Agricultural Engineering. | 38 | $16,420 | $163 | $68,236 ($5,686) | $77,884 ($6,490) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Architectural Engineering. | 66 | $25,116 | $265 | $74,262 ($6,189) | $77,591 ($6,466) |
| Master's Degree | Architectural Engineering. | 7 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | 107 | $20,500 | $217 | $75,017 ($6,251) | $97,977 ($8,165) |
| Master's Degree | Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | 31 | $142 | $79,317 ($6,610) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Civil Engineering. | 149 | $20,424 | $217 | $76,577 ($6,381) | $91,424 ($7,619) |
| Master's Degree | Civil Engineering. | 38 | $177 | $80,222 ($6,685) | $96,348 ($8,029) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Computer Engineering. | 141 | $20,556 | $218 | $101,635 ($8,470) | $122,307 ($10,192) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | 135 | $24,449 | $249 | $83,812 ($6,984) | $99,426 ($8,286) |
| Master's Degree | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | 31 | $111,598 ($9,300) | $136,031 ($11,336) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Engineering Science. | 14 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering. | 48 | $20,500 | $217 | $74,849 ($6,237) | $84,785 ($7,065) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Materials Engineering | 45 | $17,000 | $180 | $72,450 ($6,038) | $98,908 ($8,242) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Economics. | 65 | $18,500 | $186 | $62,283 ($5,190) | $76,499 ($6,375) |
| Master's Degree | Economics. | 22 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Political Science and Government. | 119 | $17,665 | $189 | $39,146 ($3,262) | $71,231 ($5,936) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Sociology. | 57 | $16,750 | $175 | $41,165 ($3,430) | $67,872 ($5,656) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Social Sciences, Other. | 40 | $17,000 | $170 | $25,938 ($2,162) | $41,749 ($3,479) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | 14 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Fine and Studio Arts. | 49 | $19,198 | $190 | $35,610 ($2,968) | $67,430 ($5,619) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Music. | 8 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Business Administration, Management and Operations. | 762 | $17,000 | $176 | $67,785 ($5,649) | $85,332 ($7,111) |
| Master's Degree | Business Administration, Management and Operations. | 45 | $233 | $60,728 ($5,061) | ||
| Master's Degree | Accounting and Related Services. | 21 | $70,591 ($5,883) | $96,939 ($8,078) | ||
| Master's Degree | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | 31 | $75,885 ($6,324) | |||
| Master's Degree | Taxation. | 14 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Construction Management. | 112 | $18,955 | $196 | $86,830 ($7,236) | |
| Master's Degree | Agricultural Business and Management. | 1 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Agricultural Mechanization. | 34 | $55,110 ($4,593) | |||
| Bachelor's Degree | Agricultural Production Operations. | 71 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services. | 1 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Agricultural Public Services. | 30 | $39,205 ($3,267) | $73,829 ($6,152) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Animal Sciences. | 180 | $20,500 | $217 | $29,961 ($2,497) | $52,909 ($4,409) |
| Master's Degree | Animal Sciences. | 7 | $78,488 ($6,541) | |||
| Bachelor's Degree | Food Science and Technology. | 43 | $20,654 | $207 | $48,308 ($4,026) | $73,350 ($6,113) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Plant Sciences. | 63 | $16,666 | $159 | $57,214 ($4,768) | $64,619 ($5,385) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Soil Sciences. | 2 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Natural Resources Management and Policy. | 84 | $20,000 | $207 | $35,917 ($2,993) | $59,696 ($4,975) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Forestry. | 29 | $17,000 | $184 | $49,040 ($4,087) | $67,118 ($5,593) |
| Master's Degree | Forestry. | 2 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Architecture. | 135 | $27,500 | $292 | $58,274 ($4,856) | $70,760 ($5,897) |
| Master's Degree | Architecture. | 1 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning. | 36 | $18,167 | $205 | $55,693 ($4,641) | $71,455 ($5,955) |
| Master's Degree | City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning. | 14 | $62,239 ($5,187) | $83,344 ($6,945) |
Campus Resources
Average faculty salary: $95,238Full time faculty: 68%
Undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio: 21.0
School's endowment start of year: $226,112,910 (2022)
School's endowment end of year: $287,263,401 (2022)