Established in 1901, the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the large town of San Luis Obispo (population range of 10,000-49,999 inhabitants), California. Officially accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) is a large-sized (uniRank enrollment range: 20,000-24,999 students) coeducational US higher education institution. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study table below for further details. This 122-year-old US higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on students' past academic records and grades. The acceptance rate range is 30-39% making this US higher education organization a very selective institution. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment. Cal Poly also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, online courses and distance learning opportunities, as well as administrative services.
Control
public
Entity
non-profit
Size
large-sized
Selectivity
very selective
Name | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo |
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Acronym | Cal Poly |
Founded | 1901 |
Motto | Discere Faciendo Learn by Doing |
Colours | Green and gold |
Mascot | Mustang |
Screenshot | |
Video Presentation |
n.a.; please submit an official California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo general video presentation. |
Address | 1 Grand Avenue San Luis Obispo 93407-1111 California United States |
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Location Map and Satellite View | |
+1 (805) 756 1111 | |
+1 (805) 756 5400 |
What is the difference between comprehensive/generalist and specialized universities in terms of the range of fields of study they offer, degree levels available and academic and carreer paths pros and cons? Read our guide article about generalist and specialized universities to learn more.
The following California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's Fields of Study/Degree Levels Matrix is divided into 6 main fields of study and 4 levels of degrees, from the lowest undergraduate degree to the highest postgraduate degree. This matrix aims to help quickly identify California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's academic range and degree level offering.
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Click here to explore a list of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo courses and programs or, if not available yet, search for them with our Search Engine powered by Google. We are constantly adding university courses and programs worldwide with the cooperation of university representatives.
You can also explore our new A-Z Guide to 8,100 University Programs, Courses and Degrees to learn more about study outlines and typical duration, tuition ranges, career prospects, salary expectations of each course/program/degree.
Yearly tuition fees refers to the amount of money that a student is charged by a University for one academic year of full-time study. Read our guide article about tuition fees and financial aid options to learn more.
Undergraduate | Postgraduate | |
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Local students |
10,000-12,499 US$ (9,110-11,390 Euro) |
10,000-12,499 US$ (9,110-11,390 Euro) |
International students |
25,000-29,999 US$ (22,780-27,340 Euro) |
20,000-24,999 US$ (18,225-22,780 Euro) |
Applying for admission is the first step towards achieving students' academic and career goals and accessing the many opportunities and resources that a university has to offer. Read our "Introduction to University Admissions" article to learn more.
uniRank publishes below some basic California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's admission information.
This institution admits Men and Women (coed).
Has California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo a selective admission policy? Yes, based on students' past academic records and grades.
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's acceptance rate range is 30-39% making this institution a very selective higher education institution.
Source: IPDES
International students are welcome to apply for admission at this institution.
University size and profile can be important factors to consider when choosing a university. Here are some potential reasons why University size and profile can affect students when choosing a university.
uniRank publishes below some major size and profile indicators for California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo has an enrollment range of 20,000-24,999 students making it a large-sized institution.
This institution has a range of 1,000-1,499 academic employees (Faculty).
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is a public higher education institution.
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is a non-profit higher education institution.
This institution's main campus is located in a Suburban setting.
This institution adopts a Quarters type of academic calendar.
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo does not have any religious affiliation.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is a framework for categorizing colleges and universities in the United States... learn more
The classification was first created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in 1970, and it has been updated periodically since then. The Carnegie Classification is based on a set of criteria, such as the level and types of degrees offered, research activity and enrollment size. Institutions are classified into one of several categories based on these criteria, ranging from "doctoral universities" with very high research activity to "special focus institutions" that primarily award degrees in a specific field, such as the arts or health professions. The classification allows for quick comparisons between institutions within and across categories.
uniRank provides below the official California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's Carnegie classification.
Basic Classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
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Size & Setting | Four-year, large, primarily residential institution |
Enrollment Profile | Very high undergraduate |
Undergraduate Profile | Four-year, full-time, more selective, lower transfer-in institution |
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Undergraduate Instructional Program | Professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence |
Graduate Instructional Program | Postbaccalaureate: Comprehensive programs |
What are the most common University facilities and services? Read our two guide articles about University Facilities and University Services to learn more.
uniRank provides below an overview of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's main facilities:
This institution has a physical Library.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's library does not have any external branch. The library collection is comprised of both physical (i.e. books, medium, etc.) and digital/electronic items. In 2021 the library reported 262,469 physical volumes, 99,647 physical media, 260,276 digital/electronic media and 223 licensed digital/electronic databases. The library is managed by a total number of 40 full-time employees, including 9 librarians. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's library has a total library expenditure greater than $100,000 per year. Source: IPDES.This institution provides housing services such as on-campus residences or dormitories.
In particular, the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo provides on-campus housing and the total dormitory capacity, whether on or off campus, was about 8,147 students in the 2021 academic year. Source: IPDES.This institution features sporting facilities and organizes sports activities for its students.
uniRank provides below an overview of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's main services:
This institution offers one or more of the following financial aid for eligible students: scholarships, grants, loans, tuition waivers, emergency financial aid etc.
This institution offers study abroad and exchange program opportunities for its students.
This institution provides a distance learning mode for certain programs or courses.
In particular, this institution offers some courses via distance education at the undergraduate level and at the graduate level. Source: IPDES.Not reported
Not reported
There are different types of legal recognition and quality assessment of higher education institutions around the world, depending on the country and its legal and higher education system... read our article about university accreditation and recognition to learn more.
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is legally recognized and/or institutionally accredited by: WASC Senior College and University Commission
Year of first Recognition or Accreditation
1951
uniRank publishes the following list of the most important California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's programmatic accreditations; feel free to submit any relevant missing specialized accreditations.
University memberships and affiliations to external organizations can be important for several reasons... read our article about university affiliations and memberships to learn more.
uniRank publishes the following list of the most important California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's affiliations and memberships; feel free to submit any relevant missing higher education-related organizations this university is affiliated with.
Academic divisions can provide valuable insights into the range of fields of study and disciplines a University focuses on and the institution's level of specialization. Comprehensive or Generalist Universities typically offer a wide range of academic programs and have many academic divisions and subdivisions across different disciplines, while Specialized Universities tend to focus on a narrower range of programs within a specific field or industry and have fewer academic divisions and a simplified organizational structure. Read our guide article "Understanding Academic Divisions in Universities - Colleges, Faculties, Schools" to learn more about academic divisions and typical university organizational structures.
uniRank shows a structural diagram of the first-level academic divisions of the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo 's organizational structure; feel free to submit any relevant missing division.
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This higher education institution is not a member of the Open Education Global (OEGlobal) organization that is developing, implementing and supporting free open education and free online courses. View a list of Open Education Global members by country.
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Site last updated: Tuesday, 2 April 2024
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Social Media
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Social Media
uniRank publishes brief reviews, rankings and metrics of some California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's social media channels as a starting point for comparison and an additional selection tool for potential applicants.
Facebook
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's Facebook page
X (Twitter)
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's X (formerly Twitter) page
YouTube
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's YouTube channel
Instagram
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's Instagram page
LinkedIn
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo's main LinkedIn profile
TikTok
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