California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO)
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) is a highly competitive public university of the California State University System. Known for significant academic excellence in the studies of engineering, agriculture, and architecture, it boasts over 60 undergraduate programs, 25+ graduate programs, teaching certificate programs, and one educational leadership EdD program. It has been considered the best public master's university in the West by U.S. News & World Report for more than 18 years. With expert faculty who utilize an experiential teaching philosophy, students benefit from hands-on resources and learning environments that provide substantial supplementation to classroom learning. A vast majority of students will realize careers within their fields of study within one year of graduation. Cal Poly graduates are known to be heavily recruited by hundreds of notable employers annually. Cal Poly gives students the necessary and fundamental skills to enter the workforce with confidence.
Admissions
of Applicants Admitted
GPA
3.84- October 31, 2011
- November 30, 2011
SAT Recommended
Test Score Ranges
25th percentile to 75th percentile- 1630–1930 SAT Total
- 530–630 SAT Reading
- 570–680 SAT Math
- 530–630 SAT Writing
- 24–29 ACT Composite
- 23–29 ACT English
- 25–30 ACT Math
TOEFL Required for intl students
Cost
Annual tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board
- $7,921
- $19,825
- $13,869
- $1,698
Will I Like It
number of undergraduates
- Public
- Suburban
- No affiliation
- 19 to 1 Student to Faculty Ratio
- 44.6% Women
- 94% returned for Second Year
- 10% of students are from Out of State
- 34% live in School-affliated housing
- 6% of students are 25 or older
Famous Alumni
Gary Bloom (CSc ’82), chief executive officer, Veritas Software Corp.
Laura Diaz (Engl ’80), co-anchor of ABC-7 television news in Los Angeles
Robert "Hoot" Gibson (AeroEngr ’69), retired astronaut, space shuttle commander
Kathleen Holmgren (IE ’80), vice president of Sun Microsystems
Lori Holland (Econ ’81), chief operating officer and chief financial officer, Wood Associates Inc., a full-service promotion company
Mike Krukow (PE ’73), former major league baseball pitcher with Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants; current radio-TV analyst with Giants
Bill Livesay (Phys ’67), general manager, Allied Signal’s Electron Vision Group, inventor of patented electron-beam system for curing polymeric coatings
John Madden (PE ’59, MS in Ed ’61), former National Football League coach of Oakland Raiders and former NFL analyst for NBC Sports
Burt Rutan (AeroEngr ’65), designer and co-pilot of the Voyager, which made aviation history in 1986 by making a nine-day, non-stop, non-refueled, around-the-world flight. The aircraft now hangs in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Ozzie Smith (SOCS '77), former St. Louis Cardinals’ shortstop
Bill Swanson (IE ’73), president, Raytheon Co.
Ernesto M. Vasquez (Arch ’73), president, MV&P International architecture firm
G. Michael Wilson (Bchm ’80), director of operations for pharmaceutical product development for Eli Lilly and Co.
"Weird" Al Yankovic (Arch ’80), Grammy winner, rock’s supreme parodist and reigning "King of the Accordian".
Academics
Cal Poly offers a wide variety of majors within six colleges:
Engineering
Business
Liberal Arts
Architecture and Environmental Design
Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Science and Math
Areas of Study
Engineering
Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering
Humanities
Foreign Languages
Music
General Music & Theory
Science & Math
Biology, Chemistry
Clubs & Activities
Cal Poly boasts more than 300 student-run clubs and organizations, offering something for every interest and culture. Cal Poly Mustang athletics compete at the Division I level in 20 men’s and women’s sports programs. Cal Poly also offers intramural sports for those students who wish to participate in sports at a less competitive level. There are always plenty of things to enjoy around campus, including weekly “University Union Hour” live concerts, craft classes, and pick-up volleyball games on Dexter Lawn.
Extra Curriculars
Long Description
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) is a highly competitive public university of the California State University System. Known for significant academic excellence in the studies of engineering, agriculture, and architecture, it boasts over 60 undergraduate programs, 25+ graduate programs, teaching certificate programs, and one educational leadership EdD program. It has been considered the best public master’s university in the West by U.S. News & World Report for more than 18 years.
With expert faculty who utilize an experiential teaching philosophy, students benefit from hands-on resources and learning environments that provide substantial supplementation to classroom learning. A vast majority of students will realize careers within their fields of study within one year of graduation. Cal Poly graduates are known to be heavily recruited by hundreds of notable employers annually.
Mailing Address
One Grand AveSan Luis Obispo, CA 93407
