Cal Poly 2027 College Confidential (2024)

FAQs

What is the acceptance rate for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 2027? ›

California Polytechnic State University--San Luis Obispo has an acceptance rate of 30%.

In June, Cal Poly received Money magazine's top five-star ranking in its 2024-25 Best Colleges in America list that showcased the top 745 colleges and universities in the U.S. based on graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid, alumni salaries and more.

Because we are an impacted campus, our selection processes uses an objective, comprehensive review process that extends beyond the basic eligibility index utilized by the California State University. This means that many CSU-eligible students are unable to be offered admission.

Which school is easier to get into? If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.

At Cal Poly SLO, liberal arts and humanities majors generally have less competition compared to engineering, architecture, and certain disciplines in the sciences. Examples of less impacted majors include English, history, philosophy, psychology, and sociology.

Undergraduate students can choose from almost 70 majors, with Cal Poly's highly ranked engineering programs as the most popular choice. There are more than 80 state-of-the-art laboratories and 50 clubs dedicated specifically to the Cal Poly College of Engineering.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is known primarily for its strong academic programs, particularly in engineering, architecture, and agriculture. That being said, the social atmosphere does exist, and parties can be found if you're interested in that scene.

What are my odds of getting into Cal Poly SLO? ›

The acceptance rate at Cal Poly is 30.3%.

This means the school is very selective. If you meet Cal Poly's requirements for GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other components of the application, you have a great shot at getting in.

While the overall acceptance rate for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is around 30%, out-of-state applicants typically face a slightly more competitive process. This is because Cal State schools, including Cal Poly, prioritize California residents due to being part of the California State University system.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is facing backlash over the hiring of former Cal State Chancellor Joseph Castro for a faculty role. Castro resigned the chancellorship in February in the wake of a scandal over how he handled sexual harassment allegations against a top administrator.

The most competitive major for first-time freshmen at Cal Poly remains psychology. More than 3,500 hopeful freshmen applied for one of only 73 available seats, or 2% of the applicant pool, the university's data show.

Cal Poly was among 15 public and private California colleges and universities to receive five-star recognition. Money magazine changed its Best Colleges guide, launched in 2015, from typically numbered rankings to the Yelp-like stars in 2023.

Cal Poly admissions is selective with an acceptance rate of 30%.

High School Courses and GPA:

Weighted GPA 3.3 or above. GPA 3.0 or above and completed approved 12 grade year-long English course (AP, CSU ERWC, Weighted Honors English) GPA 3.0 or above and completed Honors English. GPA 3.0 or above and 5 or more years of high school English.

Acceptance into Architecture at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is highly competitive due to its reputation for excellence. The program receives many more applications than it can admit students. For more information, see the Admissions statistics. Our students are some of the best and brightest in California.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is known for being a competitive school, and the transfer acceptance rate can vary depending on the year and the program you're applying to. In recent years, the transfer acceptance rate has been around 30%. Here are some tips to help you increase your chances of admission: 1.