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Rank: 51

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CAhttps://www.calpoly.edu
Since its founding in 1903 as a vocational school with an emphasis on learning by doing, Cal Poly has evolved into a skills-focused university with 65 majors, including one in wine and viticulture and several within its well-known engineering school. The population is diverse, with 17% Hispanic students and 13% Asian students. Cal Poly covers more than 9,100 acres and uses canyons, ranches, beaches, and even a farm to teach students hands-on lessons in agriculture, biology, and forestry. Students will also find hiking and biking trails located throughout the properties. The university's graduation rate is 82%, and graduates report starting salaries of about $64,300 according to PayScale, which is around 21% higher than their peers at similar universities, according to Money's calculations. In recent years, the school has been the beneficiary of formidable alumni largesse. In 2018, it opened an equestrian pavilion made possible by a $20 million gift from a former Apple executive and his wife. Another alum recently made a $110 million donation to the College of Science and Mathematics to support undergraduate research. Cal Poly's home is sunny San Luis Obispo, located on the California coast about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Surrounded by vineyards and farm-to-table restaurants, the campus is minutes from the beach and also close to Hearst Castle.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
FALL 2020 PLAN: The university is offering limited in-person classes for the fall semester, alongside both synchronous and asynchronous virtual instruction. Classes will convert to all-virtual instruction after Nov. 20.
costs
Est. Full Price 2020-2021
$29,000
% of students who get any grants
53%
Est. price for students who receive aid
$20,900
Average price for low-income students
$13,900
admissions
Acceptance rate
30%
Median SAT/ACT Score
1340/29
SAT/ACT Required for Fall 2021?
no
Enrollment
21,050
Financial Aid
% of students with need who get grants
89%
% of need met
57%
% of students who get merit* grants
13%
Average merit grant
$2,210
student success
Graduation rate
82%
Average time to a degree
4.5 years
Average student debt
$19,500
Average salary within 5 years
$64,300
% earning more than $28,000
86%
key deadlines
Early decision application
N/A
Regular application
Nov 30

* Share of full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and were awarded grants.

* Full price of attendance includes on-campus room & board fees, which may not be applicable to all colleges' reopening plans this year.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson's, PayScale.com, Money/American Institutes for Research calculations, Opportunity Insights.

coronavirus update

FALL 2020 PLAN: The university is offering limited in-person classes for the fall semester, alongside both synchronous and asynchronous virtual instruction. Classes will convert to all-virtual instruction after Nov. 20.

* Share of full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and were awarded grants.

* Full price of attendance includes on-campus room & board fees, which may not be applicable to all colleges' reopening plans this year.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson's, PayScale.com, Money/American Institutes for Research calculations, Opportunity Insights.

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