California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA calpoly.edu 21,521 students

Cal Poly's main campus sits on 9,000+ acres in San Luis Obispo County, offering a mix of open space and modern facilities. The student body is known for its strong work ethic and practical approach to learning, drawn to the university's emphasis on hands-on experience. Cal Poly is distinctive for its "learn by doing" educational philosophy across disciplines. Its location provides access to both the Central Coast's natural beauty and the resources of a growing city.

Programs

Analyzed in dataset

Earnings

$57,475

Average graduate, 1 yr after

Outlook

59/100

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

Tuition

$11,075

In-state sticker price

Out-of-state: $30,995/yr

Financial Aid

The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. Cal Poly SLO's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 18% of students receive Pell Grants; 23% take federal loans.

Net Price by Family Income

Academic Year 2025

Income Bracket	Avg Net Price	4-Year Net Cost
$0 – $30K	$6,476	$25,904
$30K – $48K	$6,904	$27,616
$48K – $75K	$11,372	$45,488
$75K – $110K	$18,032	$72,128
$110K+	$26,920	$107,680
Sticker price (no aid)	$11,075	$44,300

Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships, by reported family-income bracket. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.

Programs at Cal Poly SLO

50 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.

Degree Program	DW Score	1-yr Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
Computer Engineering Compare across schools →	87	$111,560/yr	Very High	32.0x
Business Administration Business Administration, Management and Operations Compare across schools →	84	$71,876/yr	High	22.2x
Economics Compare across schools →	80	$67,501/yr	Very High	19.2x
Computer Science Compare across schools →	77	$111,141/yr	Very High	24.1x
Electrical Engineering Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering Compare across schools →	77	$90,576/yr	Very High	25.3x
Industrial Engineering Compare across schools →	77	$87,226/yr	High	26.3x
Aerospace Engineering Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering Compare across schools →	77	$85,509/yr	High	24.4x
Mechanical Engineering Compare across schools →	77	$83,011/yr	Very High	24.0x
Civil Engineering Compare across schools →	77	$80,673/yr	High	21.9x
Agricultural Business Agricultural Business and Management Compare across schools →	75	$52,778/yr	High	20.0x
Biomedical Engineering Biomedical/Medical Engineering Compare across schools →	74	$81,186/yr	High	24.1x
Construction Management Compare across schools →	73	$92,785/yr	High	19.9x
Architectural Engineering Compare across schools →	73	$80,481/yr	High	20.9x
Materials Engineering Compare across schools →	73	$74,496/yr	High	23.3x
Environmental Engineering Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering Compare across schools →	71	$82,197/yr	Very High	18.5x
Agricultural Engineering Compare across schools →	70	$72,713/yr	High	19.3x
Mathematics Compare across schools →	68	$53,136/yr	Very High	16.7x
Food Science and Technology Compare across schools →	68	$52,240/yr	Moderate	17.6x
Plant Sciences Compare across schools →	65	$63,129/yr	High	15.7x
Architecture Compare across schools →	65	$60,634/yr	High	16.5x
Political Science Political Science and Government Compare across schools →	63	$37,003/yr	Very High	19.4x
Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools →	61	$62,183/yr	High	14.1x
Biochemistry Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Compare across schools →	61	$57,538/yr	High	15.4x
Natural Resources Management and Policy Compare across schools →	60	$37,126/yr	High	14.7x
Industrial Production Technology Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians Compare across schools →	59	$78,938/yr	Moderate	16.8x
Graphic Communications Compare across schools →	59	$49,029/yr	High	18.7x
Landscape Architecture Compare across schools →	58	$58,331/yr	High	12.8x
Microbiology & Immunology Microbiological Sciences and Immunology Compare across schools →	58	$55,807/yr	High	11.6x
Forestry Compare across schools →	58	$55,092/yr	Moderate	15.5x
Fine Arts Fine and Studio Arts Compare across schools →	58	$36,006/yr	Moderate	18.8x
Agriculture Agriculture, General Compare across schools →	56	$64,786/yr	High	14.4x
Journalism Compare across schools →	56	$48,637/yr	Very High	14.3x
Agricultural Mechanization Compare across schools →	54	$73,053/yr	Moderate	15.5x
Architectural Sciences and Technology Compare across schools →	53	$58,653/yr	High	12.2x
Biology Biology, General Compare across schools →	53	$35,638/yr	High	15.6x
Sociology Compare across schools →	50	$30,401/yr	High	16.1x
Urban & Regional Planning City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning Compare across schools →	47	$47,832/yr	High	9.8x
History Compare across schools →	47	$31,540/yr	High	12.1x
English English Language and Literature, General Compare across schools →	46	$34,718/yr	Very High	13.5x
Animal Sciences Compare across schools →	46	$33,879/yr	High	13.0x
Teacher Education Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Compare across schools →	46	$22,293/yr	High	11.3x
Geosciences Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Compare across schools →	45	$48,489/yr	High	9.9x
Agricultural Public Services Compare across schools →	43	$54,583/yr	High	11.3x
Psychology Psychology, General Compare across schools →	43	$23,744/yr	High	13.8x
Liberal Arts & Humanities Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Compare across schools →	42	$35,056/yr	Low	13.5x
Health & Physical Education Health and Physical Education/Fitness Compare across schools →	35	$30,472/yr	Moderate	5.9x
Parks & Recreation Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies Compare across schools →	33	$39,157/yr	Very High	7.8x
Social Sciences Studies Social Sciences, Other Compare across schools →	31	$28,931/yr	High	9.3x
Marine Sciences Compare across schools →	24	$27,337/yr	High	5.2x
Nutrition Sciences Compare across schools →	22	$22,675/yr	High	4.1x