California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO) is a public polytechnic university in San Luis Obispo, California, founded in 1901. It is one of the most selective universities in the California State University system and one of the most respected polytechnic institutions in the United States. Cal Poly enrolls approximately 22,000 students across six colleges covering agriculture, architecture and environmental design, business, engineering, liberal arts, and science and mathematics. The university's defining philosophy is 'Learn by Doing,' which integrates hands-on experience, industry-sponsored projects, and applied research into every academic program from the first year. Cal Poly's graduation employment rate consistently exceeds 90%, and 10-year median earnings of $69,400 place it among the top public universities in the nation for return on investment. Cal Poly's 9,678-acre campus is one of the largest in the CSU system and includes working farms, orchards, a dairy, vineyards, and a meat processing plant that support the university's nationally acclaimed agricultural programs. The campus is surrounded by the scenic hills of San Luis Obispo County, offering world-class outdoor recreation including hiking, cycling, and proximity to Morro Bay and the Pacific coast. The Mustangs compete in the NCAA Division I Big West Conference and the Big South Conference for football. Cal Poly has been ranked by US News & World Report as the top or second public regional university in the West for many consecutive years, and has earned five-star recognition from Money Magazine. With an acceptance rate around 29-31%, Cal Poly is the most selective campus in the CSU system, attracting high-achieving students from California and across the nation.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
—
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$33230
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $34,665
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
