Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (2024)

FAQs

Is Cal Poly SLO hard to get into? ›

The acceptance rate at Cal Poly is 30.3%.

This means the school is very selective.

Cal Poly SLO is a public version of the California Institute of Technology, known for its strong STEM programs.

In summary, if you prioritize a hands-on, immediately employable education and strong industry connections, Cal Poly SLO is a better choice. If you're interested in a research-oriented education with a more laid-back environment and a wider variety of campus life experiences, UC Santa Barbara might be a better fit.

With a GPA of 4, Cal Poly requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. You should also have taken plenty of AP or IB classes to show your ability to excel in academic challenge.

Once again, the major that had the fewest number of spaces available compared to the number of freshman applicants was psychology, with room for just 2% of the applicant pool, according to the university's data. That major has routinely been the most impacted at Cal Poly.

1. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo: Known for its strong programs in engineering and architecture, this university is regarded as one of the most selective within the CSU system. 2. San Diego State University: It popular for its business and health-related programs.

Party Scene

Tons of raging parties almost any night of the week. Lots of options Wednesday-Saturday. Some decent frat/house parties, weekends only. Good parties are few and far between.

Alongside some of the most prestigious universities in the world, Money says, are schools where a wider variety of students can actually get in and afford to attend. Cal Poly was joined as a top-ranked institution with three other California State University campuses.

Since 1901, Cal Poly and Learn by Doing have been inextricably linked. Combining rigorous academics and real-world applications, Learn by Doing has guided and inspired hundreds of thousands of our students toward successful careers for well over a century — and can do the same for you well into your future.

Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or UC Santa Barbara Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into? If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is more difficult to get into.

Why is Cal Poly SLO more expensive? ›

Cal Poly is more expensive than many schools in the University of California system because UC's provide more financial aid. Part of the goal of this plan is to offset some of those costs making Cal Poly a more accessible choice for low and middle-income California students.

What's better, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo or Cal Poly Pomona? In terms of reputation, Cal Poly SLO is “better” than Cal Poly Pomona, which is why Cal Poly SLO #2 is ranked higher than Cal Poly Pomona #14. However, it is unclear if there is any difference in RIO (return on investment).

The Cal Poly campus is less than a five-minute drive from Downtown SLO and is conveniently located within 20 minutes of beaches, including Cayucos State Beach, Morro Bay, Avila Beach and more.

The acceptance rate at Cal Poly for freshmen who entered campus in fall 2023 was 30%, nearly identical to the year prior. The applicant pool totaled 63,955 hopefuls. However, for the full picture, you'll want to also look at admission rates by College (more on that below), which range from 20-48%.

High School Courses and GPA:

Weighted GPA 3.3 or above. GPA 3.0 or above and completed approved 12 grade year-long English course (AP, CSU ERWC, Weighted Honors English) GPA 3.0 or above and completed Honors English. GPA 3.0 or above and 5 or more years of high school English.