California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Tuition, Acceptance Rate and Admissions (2026)

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · Graduate degree · College Scorecard data · Updated September 10, 2026

In-State Tuition$13,596
Out-of-State Tuition$34,665
Acceptance Rate31%
Average SATNot published

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs. State and National Averages

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA AverageNational Average
In-state tuition$13,596$16,639$18,082
vs. average—-18%-25%

Other colleges in San Luis Obispo

CollegeTypeUndergraduatesTuition
Central California School of Continuing EducationPrivate for-profit41$9,895
Cuesta CollegePublic7,180$1,350
Laurus CollegePrivate for-profit1,116$83,400

Tuition shown is in-state tuition for schools that report one, otherwise the published tuition for the school's largest program. Source: College Scorecard.

Outcomes and student profile at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Median earnings 10 years after enrolling$90,768
Graduation rate (within 150% of normal time)86%
Median debt among graduates who borrowed$18,500
Undergraduates receiving Pell grants19%
Undergraduates aged 25 and over2%
First-generation students25%

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. Earnings and debt figures cover students who received federal financial aid.

FAQ

What is the tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?

In-state tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $13,596 and out-of-state tuition is $34,665, according to College Scorecard data.

What is the acceptance rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?

The acceptance rate at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is 31%.

How hard is it to get into California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?

With an acceptance rate of 31%, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is selective among U.S. colleges.

What SAT score do you need for California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?

College Scorecard does not publish an average SAT score for California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. Schools without a published figure are usually test-optional, open-admission, or they do not report test scores to the federal survey.

How big is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo enrolls about 21,996 undergraduate students. The student-faculty ratio is 19:1.

Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo expensive?

In-state tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $13,596, which is 18% below the CA average of $16,639.

How much do graduates of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo earn?

Median earnings ten years after enrolling at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo are $90,768 a year, according to College Scorecard.

How much debt do students at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo take on?

The median debt among California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduates who borrowed is $18,500, according to College Scorecard.