California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) is by “Western Association of Schools and Colleges.” The university currently caters to the needs of over 20,000 students through six colleges spread across one of the largest college campuses in the US. Cal Poly boasts being recognized as the number 1 public Masters-level university by US News. Additionally, engineering programs at Cal Poly are also highly ranked among the world. 

With an acceptance rate of 30% and a selective admission policy, the university ensures that only the academic elite are enrolled in the courses offered. International students planning to apply for Cal Poly will need to ensure that apart from a good GPA, they have competitive scores on tests required to study in the US. The tuition can cost around $20,000 annually for international students and other expenses can round up to $15,000 annually. You can look for scholarships to study in US in case you plan on opting for financial aids. 

California Polytechnic State University Ranking

California Polytechnic State University ranked:

  • #3 in Regional Universities West, US News
  • #1 in Best Colleges for Veterans, US News 2021
  • #2 in Best Undergraduate Teaching, US News 2021
  • #1 in Most Innovative Schools, US News 2021
  • #96 in Top Performers on Social Mobility, US News 2021
  • #1 in Top Public Schools, US News 2021
  • 201st US College Rankings 2021

Highlights

Type of University Public
Faculty Members 1473
Percentage of International students 0.9%
Established in 1901
Graduate Placement Rate 95%
Study Abroad Programs 500
Tuition Fee for International UG Students 23,715 USD – 26,022 USD
Tuition Fee for International PG Students 19,605 USD – 19,905 USD
Official website calpoly.edu

California Polytechnic State University Campus & Accommodation

Cal Poly is among one of the largest land-hold universities in the United State and is committed to creating equitable communities for all residents, staff, and guests of the institution. Student life on Cal Poly campus offers you to join 25+ sports clubs, 30+ fraternities/sororities, and over 400 student clubs and organizations. 

On-campus and off-campus housing options are available to choose from. For on-campus residence, students are not just applying to live in a specific building but in a residential learning community that has academic, wellness, social, identity and inters-specific living-learning programs forming a community. Apart from the community package, other benefits are the ease of access to university resources, activities, and social gatherings. In view of this, the university makes it mandatory for all freshmen to live on campus. When applying for on-campus residence, students are given the opportunity to choose their preferred accommodation type in any of the top five residential communities on-campus and they are likely to be placed in their first choice.

To be a member of the residential learning community, the following step must be taken:

  • Acceptance of admission offer
  • Application for housing via the Cal Poly portal. When applying, the student is required to do the following:
    • Agree to the housing contract
    • Make an initial payment of 500 USD for housing and 1,000 USD for dining
    • Select the top residential learning community preferences
    • Add accommodation information
    • Request for roommates
  • Select the preferred housing options (Gender-inclusive housing, dining plan, etc.)
  • Select the preferred room
  • Move-in

For off-campus students, San Luis Obispo is a homely community with a lot of exciting activities in a serene environment. However, looking for an apartment may be a herculean task, therefore, returning students who intend to stay off-campus are advised to contact the off-campus office directly at (805) 756-2794 or visit the school website for housing resources.

California Polytechnic State University Courses

California Polytechnic State University offers 65 undergraduate programs, 39 graduate programs, 84 minor degrees, and 13 credentials across its five colleges. Cal Poly programs also provide modern facilities, adequate learning resources, seasoned professionals, and a conducive learning community to help students excel in their chosen fields. This is evidenced by the fact that 89% of Cal Poly graduates are fully employed or in grad schools upon graduation. 

  • It offers 60 majors in the undergraduate category. The popular undergraduate courses and programs include accounting, agriculture, computer science, business administration, computer and information systems, creative writing, computer technician, quality control, English language and literature, and many more. 
  • The popular graduate courses and programs include biology, biomedical engineering, public policy, business analytics, nutrition, and many more. For most of the top PG courses at Cal Ploy, the admission open in October for international applicants. 

California Polytechnic State University Application Process

Detailed information on Cal Poly international admission procedures is outlined below: 

How to Apply: To apply for admission, the following steps must be taken by the prospective student:

  1. Choose a major that best fits your educational goals and review all documents to ensure that all the requirements and supporting documents ready for upload
  2. Submit the application online on or before the deadline with a non-refundable and non-transferable application fee of 70 USD. A response mail will be sent by the school to the applicant in acknowledgment of receipt of the application. 
  3. Periodic log in on the portal to view any outstanding requirements and confirm all personal information.
  4. Ensure that all admission file requirements are submitted before the deadline
  5. Keep an open line of communication as the admission officer will communicate the application status or any other update.

Admission Requirements: In addition to the online application, international students are expected to submit the following documents to complete the application process:

  • Official transcripts submitted by the institution in the native language with a certified English translated version attached.
  • International Academic Evaluation of the candidate's credentials
  • SAT or ACT test scores sent electronically from the testing agency or via the application TOEFL or IELTS results of not more than two years for applicants whose first language is not English. 
    • IELTS- 6.5
    • TOEFL- 80
  • GRE/GMAT are waived off for 2021 admissions.
  • Personal Statements
  • Resume/CV
  • Letters of Recommendations

California Polytechnic Institute of Technology Cost of Attendance

All Cal Poly fees listed below are estimates and subject to change upon approval by the board of trustees, the chancellor, or the president. However, changes will be made in accordance with the requirements of the working families students fee transparency and accountability act.

Fees for undergraduate programs: 

Fees Cost for UG (USD per year) Cost of PG (USD per year)
Registration Fee 10,071 11,672 
Non-Residence Fee 11,880 6,336
International Fee 900 -
Mandatory Health Insurance 1,416 -
Total Tuition 30,420 17,964
Books 681 681
Supplies 202 202
Room and Meals 15,705 16,377
Transportation 711 711
Personal/Miscellaneous 1,479 1,479
Total Cost of Attendance 47,070 37,491

Note:

  • Fees are based on full-time enrollment
  • Non-resident tuition is based on 15 units per quarter at 264 USD per unit
  • MBA costs 46,073

California Polytechnic State University Scholarships

Financial aid opportunities at Cal Poly are available through scholarship and work sponsorship programs. The type of financial aid chosen by a student depends on his/her intention and financial resources. There are more than 800 Cal Poly scholarships available across different colleges excluding outside scholarships and awards. These on-campus scholarships are awarded based on financial need, community service, scholastic achievement, honor and organizational affiliations, participation in school activities, etc. 

On-campus scholarships may be university-wide (that is; applicable to every qualified student in the university) or college, department or major-wise (that is; applicable to students in a specific college, department or major). Recipients of these scholarships are selected every spring for the upcoming session and renewal is based on the terms and conditions binding the award. The two types of scholarships available are annual scholarships and endowed scholarships. 

  • Annual Scholarship: This scholarship is aimed at providing support for students for one academic year and it is renewable every year, by the donor. The award is pegged at a minimum sum of 1,000 USD annually, for 5 years, making a total minimum amount of 5,000 USD.
  • Endowed Scholarship: This is a consistent 25,000 USD financial support to students and allows the institution to hold the fund in perpetuity releasing only a fraction to the recipients annually.

Earn by Doing Sponsorship Program: Financial Aid can be in the form of an Earn by Doing work sponsorship program. This program funds students to work at one of the on-campus facilities like shops, laboratories, workshops, etc. A non-technical work attracts a sponsorship award of 5,000 USD while a technical work attracts a sponsorship of 100,000 USD held in perpetuity.

Work While You Study

As an institution that promotes experience and skill development, Cal Poly is intentional about helping students get job placement on-campus to help meet some financial obligations, develop skills and expertise about a job and network around the workplace. 

Through the MustangJOBS services, an online job listing service powered by handshake, Cal Poly has been able to create over 2500 on-campus, local part-time jobs internship and career positions available for students every year.

Information on working while studying, eligibility, basic rules and requirements and the benefits accrued to on-campus and off-campus work can only be accessed by current students of the institution by direct login into their my.calpoly.edu portal. For further information, prospective students can call the MustangJOBS helpline at (805) 756-5976.

California Polytechnic State University Placements

Graduates from Cal Poly are hired in sectors like consulting, IT, engineering, project management, marketing, and financial services. Some of the highest paying degrees from the university are:

  • MS- 96,000 USD/year
  • BSc- 75,000 USD/year

All programmes are founded on the ‘Learn by Doing’ philosophy – meaning students participate and  around 23% of Cal Poly students study abroad, the highest percentages in the California State University System. For international students, Cal Poly is a great way to learn engineering and other popular courses at a reasonable affordable price.