Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Small suburb

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, California. 21,996 undergraduates. Admits 31% of applicants.

California colleges Official websiteIts net price calculator
87%Graduation rate32 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$18,832Average net price per year5% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$96,304Median earnings 10 years after starting63% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$16,500Median debt at graduation24% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($16,500) equals 17% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($96,304). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$10,354
$30,000–$48,000$9,975
$48,001–$75,000$12,476
$75,001–$110,000$18,082
Over $110,000$31,461

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $15,039 in-state, $37,005 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate87%54%
Return for second year96%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$78,025$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$96,304$58,912
Median debt at graduation$16,500$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

102 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Science219$129,984$179,459$15,000
Computer Engineering117$114,472$162,720$17,178
Materials Engineering59$77,737$129,740$18,500
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering76$95,254$124,658$20,500
Biomedical/Medical Engineering84$84,426$122,217$19,000
Industrial Engineering69$89,961$122,185$18,999
Mechanical Engineering288$86,929$116,548$17,778
Construction Management126$91,503$116,040$19,059
Business Administration, Management and Operations748$73,444$113,339$15,000
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering95$88,269$111,710$19,500
Agricultural Engineering32$85,019$111,119$25,000
Manufacturing Engineering28$77,750$108,502—
Civil Engineering126$79,454$106,910$17,066
Statistics49$77,340$106,032$15,904
Economics57$77,018$101,584$12,000
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering31$79,657$100,240$19,317
Architectural Engineering44$81,271$98,136$22,769
Physics34$42,890$92,743—
Agricultural Business and Management118$62,504$92,139$14,500
Graphic Communications81$52,902$88,294$17,000
Mathematics68$52,033$87,645$16,851
Agriculture, General36$56,536$85,804—
Food Science and Technology107$54,906$84,810$12,666
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning30$59,601$83,945$18,500
Political Science and Government98$42,667$83,069$14,506
Agricultural Public Services35$67,189$82,769—
Communication and Media Studies86$59,292$82,452$15,768
Journalism86$38,051$82,412$15,500
Architecture0—$81,816—
Plant Sciences49$58,916$81,403$18,667
Biology, General153$45,825$79,791$19,000
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences31$47,795$78,602—
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians47$78,209——
Forestry40$45,731$75,610$15,000
Landscape Architecture42$61,551$74,865$19,167
English Language and Literature, General53$35,293$73,372$20,833
Chemistry27$65,943$73,259—
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness76—$72,927$12,498
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy138$50,871$72,686$16,871
Fine and Studio Arts62—$72,638$18,250
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas0—$70,660—
Social Sciences, Other34$47,179$70,618—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities102$36,044$69,530$13,000
Sociology58$46,395$69,474$15,000
Agricultural Mechanization30$68,847——
Architectural Sciences and Technology172$68,292—$22,500
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology29$56,115$67,459—
Nutrition Sciences63$37,212$67,420$17,708
Psychology, General156$31,269$66,389$12,500
History61$21,697$65,826$19,833
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods50—$61,833$15,167
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies93$57,289$61,506$15,250
Animal Sciences207$40,627$58,903$15,000
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other41$44,063—$15,000
Public Health52$39,262—$16,500
Philosophy31$29,855——
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies8———
Engineering Science12———
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services1———
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics14———
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology20———
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology1———
Marine Sciences24———
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft10———
Music9———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

31%Admission rate
19:1Students per faculty member
23%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

Similar colleges in California

Pomona CollegeClaremont · net price $18,978 · grad rate 92%University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara · net price $16,807 · grad rate 84%Soka University of AmericaAliso Viejo · net price $16,383 · grad rate 88%University of California-Santa CruzSanta Cruz · net price $18,549 · grad rate 74%University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla · net price $14,794 · grad rate 86%University of California-DavisDavis · net price $14,318 · grad rate 86%

Compare colleges side by side

Quick answers

How much does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo cost per year?
The average net price at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $18,832 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduates earn?
Former California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo students earn a median of $96,304 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
87% of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $16,500. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.