How many students does Cal Poly accept each year?

Cal Poly's acceptance numbers fluctuate yearly but are highly selective, with recent admission rates around 28-30%, meaning they accept roughly a quarter to a third of applicants, though specific numbers vary by applicant pool (in-state vs. out-of-state, freshman vs. transfer) and popular majors, with about 6,000 freshman and over 1,000 transfer students enrolling from accepted pools each fall.

How many students does Cal Poly accept?

Admissions. Cal Poly's admissions process is described as "more selective" according to U.S. News & World Report. For the class entering fall 2025, 22,956 students were accepted out of a record 81,910 applicants, a 28% acceptance rate.

Is it harder to get into UCLA or Cal Poly?

UCLA is generally harder to get into than Cal Poly SLO based on overall acceptance rates, but Cal Poly becomes extremely competitive, even harder than some UCs for specific programs like Computer Science, making the choice depend heavily on your major and qualifications. While UCLA's overall admission is tougher (around 9-10% acceptance), Cal Poly's selectivity has surged, with some majors seeing <4% acceptance rates, rivaling top UCs. 

Is Cal Poly SLO a top 50 school?

Yes, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO) is generally considered a top-tier university, often ranking within the top 50 nationally, especially among public universities, with Forbes ranking it #55 overall and in the Top 25 Public Colleges for 2025-26, while U.S. News & World Report places it #1 in Regional Universities West. Its strong emphasis on hands-on learning ("Learn by Doing") contributes to high alumni salaries and return on investment, solidifying its reputation as a leading public institution. 

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?

Cal Poly Pomona | Dorm Tour

What is the 25-35 rule at Cal Poly?

The Cal Poly "25-35 rule" is a guideline recommending students study 25-35 hours per week, or about two hours of study time for every one hour of class time (2 hours/unit), treating coursework like a full-time job (40-50 hour work week) to manage the demanding quarter system. This means dedicating significant time outside of class for self-learning, reading, and assignments to keep up with the fast pace and build deep understanding. 

What is the hardest Cal Poly to get into?

Psychology: 3,759 applicants, 80 seats available — 2.13% Biological sciences: 5,351 applicants, 159 seats available — 2.97% Aerospace engineering: 2,405 applicants, 85 seats available — 3.53% Marine sciences: 672 applicants, 24 seats available — 3.57%

Is UC Davis or Cal Poly better?

Both UC Davis and Cal Poly are excellent institutions with distinct vibes and opportunities, and your decision would largely depend on your personal preferences and field of interest. UC Davis has a strong reputation, especially in the life sciences, agriculture, and veterinary programs.

Is Cal Poly SLO a public ivy?

So, here's this year's list of Public Ivy schools: Binghamton University. Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.

What is the #1 university in California?

There isn't one single "number 1" university in California, as rankings vary, but Stanford University consistently ranks highest overall (private), while the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is often named the top public university, closely followed by UCLA, with Caltech also a top contender. Stanford and Caltech are private powerhouses, while UC Berkeley and UCLA lead the public sector, with UCSD, UCSB, and others also highly ranked. 

Is UCSB or Cal Poly better?

In summary, if you prioritize a hands-on, immediately employable education and strong industry connections, Cal Poly SLO is a better choice. If you're interested in a research-oriented education with a more laid-back environment and a wider variety of campus life experiences, UC Santa Barbara might be a better fit.

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. 

Is Cal Poly an elite school?

Yes, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO) is widely considered prestigious, especially as a public university, known for its strong "Learn by Doing" approach, highly ranked engineering, architecture, and agriculture programs, high recruitment rates, and consistent top rankings among Western universities, though it's often seen just below the top-tier UCs like Berkeley and UCLA in national prestige. Its selectivity (around 30% acceptance rate) and strong career outcomes (90%+ employed or in grad school within a year) add to its esteemed reputation. 

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.

What is the smallest Ivy League school?

The smallest Ivy League school by enrollment is Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, known for its intimate undergraduate focus, comprehensive programs, and strong community within a rural New England setting, despite its smaller size compared to other Ivies like Harvard or Columbia. 

How prestigious is CPP?

Yes, Cal Poly Pomona is considered a prestigious public university, especially for polytechnic and career-focused programs, recognized for strong rankings in the West, diversity, economic mobility (helping graduates succeed financially), affordability, and specific engineering strengths, though its prestige differs from a highly selective private school like Pomona College. It's known for practical education, earning high marks for graduates' career outcomes in rankings from U.S. News, The Wall Street Journal, and Money Magazine.
 

What are the 63 hidden Ivies?

The 63 "Hidden Ivies" are a list of excellent, selective colleges outside the traditional Ivy League, known for strong academics, often with liberal arts focuses, broken down into Northeast (37), South (12), Midwest (11), and West (3) regions, including schools like Amherst, Williams, Carleton, Duke, Emory, Stanford, Pomona, and UChicago, offering Ivy-level education without the traditional Ivy League name. 

Is Cal Poly SLO better than Pomona?

While Cal Poly SLO doesn't offer as many majors—roughly 60, compared to over 100 at Cal Poly Pomona—Cal Poly SLO's programs are more prestigious and rigorous.

What is the #1 community college in California?

There's no single "#1" community college in California, as rankings vary by source and focus (e.g., transfers, online, affordability), but Irvine Valley College (IVC), Foothill College, and Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) consistently rank high, with IVC often cited as #1 by WalletHub for overall quality, Foothill praised for online programs and overall experience by Niche, and Mt. SAC noted by EdSmart for its vast programs and value.
 

Is Cal Poly harder to get into than UCLA?

UCLA is generally harder to get into than Cal Poly SLO based on overall acceptance rates, but Cal Poly becomes extremely competitive, even harder than some UCs for specific programs like Computer Science, making the choice depend heavily on your major and qualifications. While UCLA's overall admission is tougher (around 9-10% acceptance), Cal Poly's selectivity has surged, with some majors seeing <4% acceptance rates, rivaling top UCs. 

Is UC Davis a little ivy?

UC Davis also offers certificates and courses, including online classes, for adults and non-traditional learners through its Division of Continuing and Professional Education. The university is considered a Public Ivy.

What is the easiest major at Cal Poly?

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 is the #1 college in California?

The number one college in California depends on the ranking system, but Stanford University consistently ranks first overall, followed closely by institutions like the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), which is often the top public university. For public options, UCLA and UC Berkeley are top contenders.
 

What kind of students go to Cal Poly?

“However, while Cal Poly is growing more diverse and we are better reflecting California, we still have more work to do.” The 2022 incoming class includes all-time high percentages of: Women, at 51.44%; Students from underrepresented communities, at 27.37%;