California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

calpoly.edu/

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2020 Undergraduate Tuition

$5,742

0% growth from 2019

2020 Average Net Price

$20,491

After Financial Aid

2018 Student Loan

0.768%

Default Rate

2020 Acceptance Rate

38.4%

52,371 Applicants

2020 Enrolled Students

22,440

93.2% Full-Time

2020 Graduation Rate

83.1%

3,861 Graduates

About

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a higher education institution located in San Luis Obispo County, CA. In 2020, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo were General Business Administration & Management (654 degrees awarded), Mechanical Engineering (308 degrees), and General Biological Sciences (197 degrees).

In 2020, 5,388 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. 48.6% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 51.4% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,986 degrees), 3.36 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (889 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $5,742, which is $−16,788 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($22,531).

Photo by Rob Bulmahn

Costs

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $20,491.

In 2020, 53% of undergraduate students attending California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 26% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$5,742

2020 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2020, the cost of tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo was $5,742. The cost of tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $−16,788 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($22,531).

This chart compares the tuition costs of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$20,491

2020 Value

3.49%

1 Year Growth

In 2020 California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $20,491. Between 2019 and 2020, the average net price of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo grew by 3.49%.

This chart compares the average net price of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$14,457

Room and Board

$1,941

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo was of $14,457 in 2020. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,941. The cost of room and board increased by 4.99% between 2019 and 2020. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

53%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

26%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

53% of undergraduate students at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo received financial aid through grants or loans in 2020. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2019, when 53% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

0.768%

2018 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2018 the default rate for borrower's at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo was 0.768%, which represents 21 out of the 2736 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo received 52,371 undergraduate applications in 2020, which represents a 3.15% annual decline. Out of those 52,371 applicants, 20,127 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 38.4% acceptance rate.

There were 22,440 students enrolled at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in 2020, and 80% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has an overall enrollment yield of 23.8%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

38.4%

Acceptance Rate in 2020

20,127

Accepted Out of 52,371

In 2020, the undergraduate acceptance rate of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo was 38.4% (20,127 admissions from 52,371 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2019, which was 28.4%. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of applicants declined by −3.15%, while admissions grew by 31%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

80%

Submission Percentage

3,831

Scores Submitted

80% of enrolled first-time students at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in 2020 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has a total enrollment of 22,440 students. The full-time enrollment at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is 20,923 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,517. This means that 93.2% of students enrolled at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, both undergraduate and graduate, is 53.9% White, 18.3% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% Asian, 7.62% Two or More Races, 0.771% Black or African American, 0.214% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.12% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (27%), followed by White Male (26.7%) and Hispanic or Latino Male (9.28%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (30.5%), followed by White Male (27.9%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (8.83%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

93.2%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, both undergraduate and graduate, is 22,440 students. The full-time enrollment at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is 20,923 and the part-time enrollment is 1,517. This means that 93.2% of students enrolled at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are enrolled full-time compared with 68.8% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

94%

2020 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo was 94%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (75%), California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity

White
12,093
Hispanic or Latino
4,097
Asian
2,985

The enrolled student population at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is 53.9% White, 18.3% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% Asian, 7.62% Two or More Races, 0.771% Black or African American, 0.214% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.12% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 52.6% White, 16.6% Hispanic or Latino, and 13% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 822 students (3.66%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2020, 146 fewer women than men received degrees from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is white (2,986 degrees awarded). There were 3.36 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (889 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is General Business Administration & Management (654 degrees awarded), followed by Mechanical Engineering (308 degrees) and General Biological Sciences (197 degrees).

The most specialized majors across all degree types at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Agriculture (536 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (215 degrees), and Engineering (1,415 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Software developers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are Software developers (356,882 people), Other managers (349,807 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (316,136 people), Civil engineers (250,916 people), and Mechanical engineers (181,752 people).

The most specialized majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are Agriculture (536 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (215 degrees), Engineering (1,415 degrees), Communication Technologies (92 degrees), and Natural Resources & Conservation (123 degrees).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are Surgeons, Dentists, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Physicians, and Chief executives & legislators

Common Industries by Major

Architectural, engineering & related services

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are Architectural, engineering & related services (539,899 people), Computer Systems Design (399,499 people), Construction (305,624 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (206,541 people), and Aircraft & parts manufacturing (142,193 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
654 degree-majorss awarded
Mechanical Engineering
308 degree-majorss awarded
General Biological Sciences
197 degree-majorss awarded

In 2020, the most common bachelors degree concentration at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo was General Business Administration & Management with 654 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

2,767

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2020

2,621

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2020

In 2020, 2,767 degrees were awarded to men at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, which is 1.06 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,621).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2020, 372 degrees were awarded to men at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.19 times more than the 312 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2020, 312 degrees were awarded to women at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.839 times less than the 372 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

48%

100% Completion Time

82%

150% Completion Time

In 2020, 48% of students graduating from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 82% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 83% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

White Female

Highest Graduation Rate (88.5%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is Female and White (88.5% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.4%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 4.2% of graduates (162 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
2,986 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
889 degrees awarded
Asian
687 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is white (2,986 degrees awarded). There were 3.36 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (889 degrees).

4.83% of degree recipients (260 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic

White Male
1,536 degrees awarded
White Female
1,450 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
449 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is white male (1,536 degrees awarded). There were 1.06 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (1,450 degrees).

Operations

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has an endowment valued at nearly $226M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $5.58M (2.47%), compared to the 3.19% average return ($1.26M on $39.6M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2020, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo had a total salary expenditure of $687M. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo employs 323 Professors, 209 Lecturers, and 182 Assistant professors. Most academics at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are Male Professors (230), Male Lecturers(128), and Male Associate professors (98).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are: Business and Financial Operations, with 275 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 275 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 213 employees.

Endowment

$226M

2020 Endowment

0.715%

decline from 2019

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has an endowment valued at about $226M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The endowment of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo declined 0.715% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $186M higher than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$0 - Federal
$0 - State
$0 - Local

As of 2020, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo received $0 in grants and contracts from the federal government, $0 from state grants and contracts, and $0 from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$223M

2020 Salaries

5.3%

growth from 2019

In 2020, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo paid a median of $223M in salaries, which represents 32.4% of their overall expenditure ($687M) and a 5.3% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 2.06% growth from 2018 and a 11.6% growth from 2017.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 34.6M (40.9% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$85.7M

Instructional Salaries

881

Number of Employees

In 2020, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo paid a total of $85.7M to 881 employees working as instructors, which represents 38.5% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $11M (31.8%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

323 Employees

Business and Financial Operations

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

275 Employees

In 2020, the most common positions for instructional staff at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo were Professor with 323 employees; Lecturer with 209 employees; and Lecturer with 182 employees.

In 2020, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo were Business and Financial Operations with 275 employees; Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 275 employees; and Office and Administrative Support with 213 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic

Male Professor
Male Lecturer
Male Associate professor

In 2020, the most common demographic for instructional staff at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo was Male Professor with 230 employees, Male Lecturer with 128 employees, and Male Associate professor with 98 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.