Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is a public regional university located in San Luis Obispo, California. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is in the top 10% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $80,643 10 years after enrolling, 11th in California, and in the top 5% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo bachelor students earn 16% more than the national average. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is ranked 21st in California.
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo’s median net annual cost of $20,677 and average years to graduate of 4.7 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering, Biology, Animal Sciences., Computer Science, Civil Engineering - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$20,677
Average years to graduate
4.7
Computer Engineering
Rank: #27
Economic score: 0.92
Electrical Engineering
Rank: #116
Economic score: 1.56
Food Science and Tech
Rank: #3
Economic score: 1.64
Construction Mgmt.
Rank: #22
Economic score: 1.69
Agricultural Bus. and Mgmt.
Rank: #6
Economic score: 1.91
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: #26
Economic score: 2.72
Parks & Recreation Studies
Rank: #6
Economic score: 2.82
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #52
Economic score: 2.9
Psychology
Rank: #389
Economic score: 8.04
Health & Fitness
Rank: #393
Economic score: 24.01
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo - Civil Engineering, Education (subject specific), Business Administration, Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Accounting - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Electrical Engineering
Rank: #3
Economic score: 0.16
Engineering
Rank: #21
Economic score: 0.23
Quantitative methods Mgmt.
Rank: #20
Economic score: 0.37
Aerospace Engineering
Rank: #9
Economic score: 0.37
Biology
Rank: #11
Economic score: 0.38
Urban/community planning
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.38
Taxation
Rank: #19
Economic score: 0.39
Psychology
Rank: #39
Economic score: 0.5
English Language & Lit
Rank: #32
Economic score: 0.85
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.7 years. 84% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is 17% higher than the state average, and 26% above the average for all regional universities in the country.
At California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, Pell Grant recipients represent 16% of the measured graduating class, 19% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduates within 4.7 years.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is in the bottom 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo’s economic mobility score of 15.08 is calculated by adjusting the 0.74 economic score of lower-income students by the 16% pell grant recipients within the student body. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo’s EMS of 15.08 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo pays $20,677 a year, $8,166 less than the $28,843 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $20,677
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, 55% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $20,677 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 25% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,032. This is 29% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,023
Pell grants
$4,796
State grants
$2,709
Institutional grants
$4,068
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's selective admissions are indicated by their 33% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 54,570 applicants, of which 18,008 were admitted and 4,884 enrolled. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
99%
83%
Female
50%
59%
First time
84%
59%
In-state
77%
68%
1st generation
25%
35%
White
54%
52%
Black
1%
14%
Hispanic
18%
15%
Asian
13%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
13%
12%