How many people does Cal Poly accept?

Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo) accepts around 28-30% of applicants, but the actual number varies, with about 22,500-23,000 accepted from over 80,000 applicants for Fall 2025, aiming to enroll around 6,400 new students. Acceptance rates differ significantly by major, with highly competitive programs like Psychology and Engineering accepting very few.

How many people get accepted to Cal Poly?

California Polytechnic State University--San Luis Obispo has an acceptance rate of 31%.

What is the 25-35 rule at Cal Poly?

The "25-35 Rule" at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, refers to the strong recommendation that students study 25 to 35 hours per week outside of class, which is roughly two hours of study for every one unit of coursework, equating to a full-time job commitment for academic success. It emphasizes treating academics with the same dedication as a 40-50 hour work week to master the quarter system's fast pace. 

Is Cal Poly SLO hard to get into?

Yes, Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo) is hard to get into and highly selective, known as an "impacted campus," with overall acceptance rates around 30% but much lower enrollment rates (often under 10%) due to massive applicant pools, especially for popular majors like Computer Science or Engineering, where admission can be extremely competitive. Strong academic performance (high GPA and test scores, if submitted) is crucial, but Cal Poly uses a Multi-Criteria Admission (MCA) process that looks at many factors beyond just grades, making it tough even for CSU-eligible students. 

What is the easiest Cal Poly to get into?

Here are the last 5 least competitive majors for freshman applicants at Cal Poly in 2024-25 (based on % of seats available vs. applicants): 6️⃣ Plant Sciences – 23.8% 7️⃣ Agricultural Science – 23% 8️⃣ Food Science – 22% 9️⃣ City & Regional Planning – 21.8% 🔟 Dairy Science – 21.4% What does this mean?

college move-in vlog at cal poly slo!

Is it harder to get into UCLA or Cal Poly?

Generally, UCLA is harder to get into than Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO) based on overall lower acceptance rates and higher applicant competitiveness, but Cal Poly SLO is extremely competitive in specific, popular majors like Engineering and Computer Science, sometimes rivaling or exceeding the difficulty of certain UC programs. While UCLA's overall admissions are tougher, Cal Poly SLO's focused programs make it very selective, often considered the most competitive Cal State school and rivaling some UCs. 

Which CSU is hardest to get into?

The hardest CSU to get into is consistently Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO), often cited for its low acceptance rates (around 30% or less) and high academic standards, rivaling some University of California campuses. Other highly competitive CSUs include San Diego State (SDSU) and CSU Long Beach (CSULB), with particularly difficult-to-enter programs like Nursing, Engineering, and Computer Science being extremely selective across the system. 

What are the 10 hardest majors to get into at Cal Poly?

Cal Poly's hardest majors to get into consistently include highly impacted STEM fields like Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, and Software Engineering, alongside popular majors such as Psychology, Biochemistry, Kinesiology, and Biological Sciences, with competitiveness varying slightly by applicant pool (freshman vs. transfer) and year, but generally showing extremely low acceptance rates, especially for CS and Psychology.
 

Does Cal Poly look at extracurriculars?

Extracurricular Activities and Work Experience

Cal Poly takes activities such as work experience, internships, volunteer programs and extracurricular activities into consideration. We are also interested in any leadership roles you may have held in these activities.

Is CPP prestigious?

Yes, Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) is considered prestigious, especially within the polytechnic and public university spheres, consistently ranking highly for value, diversity, and student success in areas like engineering, economics, and social mobility, though it's often compared with its sister campus, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. It's recognized nationally and regionally by publications like U.S. News & World Report, Money Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal for its strong outcomes, affordability, and hands-on learning.
 

How do I increase my chances of getting into Cal Poly SLO?

Because this school is very selective, strong academic scores are critical to improving your chances of admission. If you're able to score a 1420 SAT or a 33 ACT or above, you'll have a very strong chance at getting in. For a school as selective as Cal Poly, rounding out the rest of your application will also help.

Is 3.7 GPA magna or summa?

A 3.7 GPA typically qualifies for Magna Cum Laude, meaning "with great honor," but it depends on the university, as some might place it just below Summa Cum Laude or have different GPA ranges, though generally, Cum Laude is 3.5-3.69, Magna is 3.7-3.89, and Summa is 3.9+. 

What percent of Cal Poly is white?

The racial composition of California Polytechnic State University includes 57.13% White, 16.8% Asian, and smaller percentages for Black or African American, other race, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and multiracial populations.

Is it harder to get into Cal Poly or SDSU?

A Chronicle analysis of admissions rates found that Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is the most competitive school in the California State University system.

What percentage of waitlisted students get accepted?

Waitlist acceptance rates vary wildly, averaging around 20% overall but often dropping to 0-7% at highly selective colleges, with some top schools admitting no one, while others, like Michigan State (Class of 2027), accept nearly everyone on their waitlist. Acceptance depends heavily on how many admitted students decline their offers (yield) and the specific school's needs, with rates fluctuating significantly year-to-year, even for the same institution. 

Is Cal Poly a top 50 school?

And in late August, Cal Poly was again named to Forbes' Top 25 Public Colleges, as part of the magazine's 2025-26 list of America's Top Colleges. The university was 55th in the nation — up from 57th in 2024 and No. 83 in 2023 — among the 500 ranked public and private not-for-profit universities in the U.S.

What is the easiest major to get into Cal Poly SLO?

What are the easiest majors to get into at Cal Poly? Here are the top 10

• Recreation, parks and tourism administration: 365 applicants, 82 spaces available — 22.5%
• Liberal studies: 493 applicants, 108 spaces available — 21.9%
• Industrial engineering: 299 applicants, 65 spaces available — 21.7%

What companies recruit from Cal Poly?

Cal Poly grads are working at top employers, including Abbot, Amazon, Applied Medical, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, LinkedIn, Northrop Gruman, PwC and SpaceX.

Is Cal Poly harder to get into than UCLA or?

Generally, UCLA is harder to get into than Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO) based on overall lower acceptance rates and higher applicant competitiveness, but Cal Poly SLO is extremely competitive in specific, popular majors like Engineering and Computer Science, sometimes rivaling or exceeding the difficulty of certain UC programs. While UCLA's overall admissions are tougher, Cal Poly SLO's focused programs make it very selective, often considered the most competitive Cal State school and rivaling some UCs. 

What is the most competitive major at Cal Poly?

According to data from the Cal Poly Office for Institutional Research, the most competitive major for freshman applicants was psychology, which received 3,759 applications but had room for just over 2.1% of those — about 80 students.

Does Cal Poly SLO admit by major?

We evaluate and admit students by their major and admission is competitive in all majors. Each major, other than those within Cal Poly Maritime Academy, has its own selection criteria and required coursework for transfer students to have completed in order to be considered competitive during the selection process.

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of families disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth College, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Duke University, Stanford University, and Princeton University, with studies showing over 20% of students at some of these schools come from the top 1% of the income ladder, often more than from the entire bottom 60% combined. Other affluent institutions like Washington University in St. Louis, Vanderbilt University, Georgetown University, and Bowdoin College also have significant representation from the wealthiest families.
 

Is Cal Poly or UCSB harder to get into?

Is UC Santa Barbara or California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Harder to get into? 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.

What college is 100% acceptance rate?

Yes, many colleges have a 100% acceptance rate, often through open admissions policies, meaning they accept all applicants who meet basic requirements, including many community colleges, specialized career schools, and some online or regional universities like Broward College, Empire State University (SUNY), University of Maryland Global Campus, and Utah Valley University, though availability and specific programs vary. These institutions guarantee admission for qualified applicants, focusing on accessibility, with some examples including Delta State University, Montana State University Billings, and the Academy of Art University.