Cal Poly: the complete school report for parents
Cal Poly puts the most weight on course rigor and GPA. The academic record does most of the work. It does not consider test scores, legacy and demonstrated interest, so campus visits and emails will not move the decision. With a 30.0% admit rate and 64% of enrolled students at a 4.0 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and scores are not part of the picture. Major matters more than the name on the diploma here: five years out, Computer Engineering graduates earn a median $146,406 against $45,522 for Social Sciences, Other.
Cal Poly is officially California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, also known as Cal Poly San Luis Obispo or Cal Poly SLO. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-10-21.
Is Cal Poly a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Cal Poly against the figures above. No account needed.
What does Cal Poly actually weigh in admissions?
Cal Poly rates 2 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA. It does not consider 10 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Cal Poly's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How Cal Poly rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Very Important |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Not Considered |
| the essay | Not Considered |
| extracurricular activities | Considered |
| recommendations | Not Considered |
| personal qualities | Not Considered |
| talent | Considered |
| class rank | Not Considered |
| demonstrated interest | Not Considered |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Not Considered |
| first-generation status | Considered |
| geography | Considered |
| state residency | Not Considered |
| volunteer work | Considered |
| work experience | Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does Cal Poly consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The senior-year schedule should keep its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
Does Cal Poly consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does Cal Poly consider SAT or ACT scores?
No. Cal Poly is test-blind, so SAT and ACT scores are not read even if you send them.
Does Cal Poly consider the application essay?
No. Cal Poly does not consider it.
Does Cal Poly consider extracurricular activities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Cal Poly consider recommendation letters?
No. Cal Poly does not consider it.
Does Cal Poly consider character and personal qualities?
No. Cal Poly does not consider it.
Does Cal Poly consider a special talent or ability?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Cal Poly consider class rank?
No. Cal Poly does not consider it. A school that does not rank its students is not a disadvantage.
Does Cal Poly consider demonstrated interest?
No. Cal Poly does not consider it. Campus visits, emails and info sessions do not move the decision.
Does Cal Poly consider an interview?
No. Cal Poly does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does Cal Poly consider legacy status?
No. Cal Poly does not consider it. A parent or grandparent who attended gives no advantage.
Does Cal Poly consider being first-generation?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. Say so on the application; it is read as context.
Does Cal Poly consider where we live?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Cal Poly consider state residency?
No. Cal Poly does not consider it.
Does Cal Poly consider volunteer work?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Cal Poly consider work experience?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Cal Poly consider religious affiliation?
No. Cal Poly does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
64% of enrolled students had a 4.0 GPA or above. The average was 4.03 on a 4 scale, reported for 99.62% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 63.77% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 21.68% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 10.19% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 3.28% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 0.77% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.31% |
| 2.00–2.49 | 0% |
What is the Cal Poly waitlist really like?
Cal Poly offered a place on its waiting list to 8,237 applicants and 599 accepted one. 599 were ultimately admitted. That is 100.0% of those who waited.
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
Cal Poly admitted 21.2% of 10,899 transfer applicants, against 30.0% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
Cal Poly offers neither Early Decision nor Early Action, so there is no early round to strategize about and every applicant is read in one pool.
| Regular application deadline | November 30 |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | April 1 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | No |
| Early Action offered | No |
| Application fee | $70 |
| Fee waiver available | Yes |
| Deferred admission offered | No |
What does my child need to take in high school?
Cal Poly requires 15 academic units and recommends 21. A college-preparatory program is required. A GED is accepted.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 years | 4 years |
| Mathematics | 4 years | 4 years |
| Science | 2 years | 4 years |
| of which lab science | 2 years | Not stated |
| Foreign language | 2 years | 4 years |
| History | 1 year | Not stated |
| Visual / performing arts | 1 year | Not stated |
What will Cal Poly actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $16,665 a year at Cal Poly after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $6,838. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 76.85% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 373 merit awards averaging $3,160 to first-years with no demonstrated need.
What families at each income level actually paid:
| Family income | Average net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $7,529 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $7,253 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $9,896 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $15,786 |
| Over $110,000 | $27,772 |
33% of Cal Poly graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $21,588 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $196 a month in repayment. Cal Poly’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from Cal Poly pay off?
Graduates earn a median $90,768 ten years after entering, and $72,358 at six years. 89% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 87% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:
| Family income | Four-year net cost | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $30,116 | 0.6 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $29,012 | 0.6 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $39,584 | 0.8 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $63,144 | 1.4 |
| Over $110,000 | $111,088 | 2.4 |
A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.
$146,406 to $45,522, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Cal Poly:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $146,406 | 158 |
| Industrial Engineering | $121,125 | 72 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $116,692 | 136 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $112,671 | 106 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $111,260 | 104 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $110,675 | 272 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $102,603 | 753 |
| Civil Engineering | $101,618 | 130 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $93,186 | 120 |
| Animal Sciences | $62,117 | 165 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $54,410 | 57 |
| Social Sciences, Other | $45,522 | 39 |
College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.
Will my child actually graduate?
95% of first-years return for a second year. 87% within six (Fall 2019 cohort).
How big are the classes?
19% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 4% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 19:1, and 69% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
What is life at Cal Poly like?
22,313 undergraduates, 19.32% of first-years from out of state. 98.53% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 39.24% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 13.4% of men join a fraternity and 18.5% of women a sorority. 25% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $74,683.
How is Cal Poly ranked?
Cal Poly is ranked #1 in Regional Universities West by U.S. News & World Report (Best Colleges 2027).
| Program list | Position |
|---|---|
| Business Programs | #129 (tie) |
| Best Undergraduate Engineering ProgramsAt schools where doctorate not offered | #6 (tie) |
| Aerospace /Aeronautical / AstronauticalAt schools where doctorate not offered | #2 |
| CivilAt schools where doctorate not offered | #1 (tie) |
| ComputerAt schools where doctorate not offered | #1 |
| Electrical / Electronic / CommunicationsAt schools where doctorate not offered | #1 |
| MechanicalAt schools where doctorate not offered | #2 |
| Computer Science | #88 (tie) |
| Software Engineering | #15 |
| Economics | #185 (tie) |
Source: U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027. Only lists that rank Cal Poly are shown; a program missing here may simply not be ranked by U.S. News, which says nothing about its quality.
What this means for your student
- Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. Cal Poly recommends 21 academic units.
- 64% of enrolled students are at a 4.0 GPA or above, averaging 4.03. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- Do not spend money on test preparation for Cal Poly: scores are not read even if you send them.
- Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
- The waitlist is live but thin: 599 of 599 who waited were admitted, about 100%.
- Its highest-earning major returns $146,406 five years out against $45,522 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about Cal Poly
What GPA do you need for Cal Poly?
64% of enrolled students at Cal Poly had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.03, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Does the Cal Poly waitlist move?
599 students accepted a place on the Cal Poly waiting list and 599 were admitted in the 2025-2026 cycle.
What do Cal Poly graduates earn?
Cal Poly graduates earn a median $90,768 ten years after entering, and 89% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with Cal Poly
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: Cal Poly’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-10-21. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.