CostByCollegeAdmissions
Cal Poly acceptance rate
The acceptance rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is 29.8% for fall 2023. Out of 63,736 applicants, 18,964 were admitted and 5,278 enrolled.
The application numbers
| Figure | Fall 2023 |
|---|---|
| Applicants, fall 2023 | 63,736 |
| Admitted, fall 2023 | 18,964 |
| Acceptance rate, fall 2023 | 29.8% |
| Admitted students who enrolled, fall 2023 | 5,278 |
How this rate compares
Against the California pilot school average of 42.7%, the rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is 12.9 points lower, which means a smaller share of applicants were admitted.
Against the national pilot school average of 53.0%, the rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is 23.2 points lower, which means a smaller share of applicants were admitted.
Averages here are simple averages across the pilot schools that publish a rate, 31 schools in California and 235 schools nationwide on this site.
What the acceptance rate does and does not mean
The acceptance rate is the share of applicants who were offered a place. It is worked out by dividing the number of students admitted by the number who applied, for fall 2023.
A low rate means many more people applied than the school could admit. It does not by itself prove that a school is better, that teaching is stronger, or that graduates earn more. Some schools draw very large applicant pools because applying is free or simple, and some excellent schools admit a large share of a smaller, well matched pool.
A high rate does not mean admission is automatic. Schools still set entry requirements, and popular programs inside a school can be far harder to enter than the overall rate suggests. The rate also says nothing about cost. Read it beside the total cost, the average net price, and the outcomes on the cost page for California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.
Similar schools to compare
- San Jose State University, San Jose, California. Total cost $32,310 for one year.
- California State University-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Total cost $33,345 for one year.
- California State University-Fullerton, Fullerton, California. Total cost $30,640 for one year.
- San Diego State University, San Diego, California. Total cost $34,072 for one year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Cal Poly?
The acceptance rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is 29.8% for fall 2023. It is the number admitted, 18,964, divided by the number who applied, 63,736.
How many students apply to Cal Poly each year?
In fall 2023, 63,736 students applied to California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, 18,964 were admitted, and 5,278 admitted students enrolled.
How selective is Cal Poly compared with other schools in California?
The average acceptance rate across the pilot schools in California that publish a rate is 42.7%, and the national average across the pilot schools on this site is 53.0%. The rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is 29.8%.
Does a low acceptance rate mean a school is better?
No. A low rate means far more people applied than the school could admit. It says nothing on its own about teaching quality, cost, or graduate earnings, which is why this site prints the rate beside cost and outcomes figures.
How much does Cal Poly cost?
The total cost for one year at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $32,321 for in state students. The cost page on this site breaks that total into tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses.
What is the graduation rate at Cal Poly?
The graduation rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is 85%, measuring the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
Sources: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, United States Department of Education. Admissions figures are for fall 2023. See the methodology page for full detail.