California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Yes. Cal Poly is the most selective campus in the California State University system, admitting about 30% of more than 71,000 first-year applicants in the most recent cycle. Admission rests almost entirely on academics: the rigor of your high school coursework and your GPA are the only two factors rated 'very important,' and competition is stiffest in impacted majors like engineering and computer science.

Out-of-state applicants are admitted at a notably higher rate than Californians. For Fall 2025, Cal Poly admitted about 62% of out-of-state applicants versus roughly 26% of in-state applicants, though only about 7,100 students applied from outside California against more than 63,000 residents. International applicants were admitted at about 31%. Out-of-state students pay significantly higher tuition, and the favorable admit rate reflects the smaller, self-selected non-resident pool more than an easier bar.

Cal Poly admits a high-achieving class: enrolled first-years averaged about a 4.03 weighted high school GPA. There is no published hard cutoff, but because the campus is test-blind, your GPA and the rigor of your coursework carry the most weight, and impacted majors typically expect grades above the campus average. Cal Poly recalculates GPA from your a-g college-prep courses under the standard CSU formula.

No. Like every California State University campus, Cal Poly is test-blind: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission, even if you submit them. Standardized test scores are rated 'not considered,' so the decision rests on your GPA and the rigor of your coursework instead.

Yes. Cal Poly admits students directly into a specific major and evaluates you against others applying to that same program, so your odds shift with how impacted your choice is. Engineering is the largest field at about 24% of degrees and among the toughest to enter, while liberal arts (22%) and business and agriculture (about 17% each) draw large numbers too. Choosing a less crowded major can change your chances, since the academic bar is set program by program.

For 2026-2027, annual tuition and required fees run about $15,720 for California residents and $29,850 for out-of-state students. On-campus housing and food add roughly $20,338, plus about $1,160 for books, $1,466 for transportation, and $2,586 in personal expenses. Aid reaches a meaningful share of students: about 36% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, the average need-based package is near $21,181, and Cal Poly meets about 77% of demonstrated need.

No. Cal Poly admits through the Cal State Apply application, which does not require a personal statement or supplemental essays, and it rates the application essay as 'not considered.' The decision turns on your GPA and course rigor instead, with extracurriculars, work experience, and first-generation status weighed as secondary 'considered' factors.

Engineering is the most popular area at about 24% of bachelor's degrees, reflecting Cal Poly's polytechnic focus. Liberal arts (around 22%) and business and agriculture and environmental sciences (about 17% each) follow, with the sciences, computing, and architecture rounding out the largest fields. Cal Poly's College of Architecture and Environmental Design and its agriculture programs are especially well known.