Cal Poly Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a well known Institution. It is selective in its admission process. The acceptance rate of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) is 33%. This means that 33 out of every 100 applicants get admissions.

As the acceptance rate is low, You need to show better performance in your academics and other activities. However, as the acceptance rate is not below 20%, you will still have a chance if your GPA was not excellent. You can make up your GPA deficiency with scoring high in SAT, ACT, and taking IB or AP Courses.

Additionally, well written letter of recommendation, your participation in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, and your interpersonal communication skills can enhance your chances of admission.

Admission Requirements

Cal Poly GPA Requirement

The average GPA of the admitted students at Cal Poly is 4. It means that Cal Poly is very selective in terms of GPA of the students. (Most schools report a weighted GPA, which is out of 4.0. However, some schools may use unweighted GPA. For exact information, contact the school admission staff).

With an average GPA of 4, Cal Poly requires you to be near the top of your class. You need to score mostly A's in all classes to have good chances of admission. A couple of B's will not hurt you much, but more B's will put you in the lower category of the students. Additionally, you must take AP or IB courses to demonstrate your academic ability. More specifically, your AP and IB courses must be related to the area of your selected course of study. For example, if you are planning a career in engineering or IT, courses related to mathematics, calculus and physics will help you.

If your GPA is less than 4 and higher than 3.7 then you need higher SAT or ACT scores to compensate. You need to have a minimum of 3.6 GPA, to secure admission at Cal Poly. Below this, chances of admission will be very slim.

Can I Get Into Cal Poly Without SAT Or ACT?: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo does not require admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process and does not recommend that students provide these scores. But it is better to submit the test score if you have performed well in the test. It gives an extra opportunity to showcase your skills and competencies and hence will improve your chances of admissions. Check the schedule of test and plan accordingly. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students, as given below. Normally, students may appear in the test for 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. But if your score is not up to the mark and is less than the national or state average, then it is better not to submit the score as it will impact negatively.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) SAT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for SAT and ACT testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them. The test score policy is already mentioned.

Institute Profile

Name: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly)

City: San Luis Obispo

URL: calpoly.edu/

State: California

Type: Public

Zip: 93407

Campus: Main

Accredited by: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission (WASCSR)

How much a degree from Cal Poly Cost?

The average annual cost of the degree at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is USD: 28843. As most of the students receive Pell grants and Federal Grant the average annual net price a student has to pay at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is USD: 20633

How can I get a scholarship?

16.28% of the students are receiving Pell grants and 22.75 percent are receiving federal grants. So it is a better choice to go to Cal Poly and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.

At California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, you will have no problem in receiving any scholarship form federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Cal Poly as your choice in the form.

How much a Cal Poly Graduate makes?

The average annual salary of the Cal Poly graduate after 4-6 year of graduation is USD 85801. An average Cal Poly graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4-6 years after graduation).

The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is USD: 36834

Degree Programs

Bachelor Programs

Masters Programs

Professional Certificate Programs

Data on this page is sourced from IPEDS, College Scorecard, US Department of Education, Institute's official websites and printed material as well as additional publicly available sources.