California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo: Cost, Graduate Salary, Acceptance Rate and Return on Investment
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public college in San Luis Obispo, CA. Students pay about $16,665 a year in net price, and the median graduate earns $90,768 ten years after enrolling. By our Degree-ROI measure the degree pays back in about 1.9 years and adds $355,520 over a decade, ranking it #29 of 918 (top 4%) by value added.
What is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's acceptance rate?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has an acceptance rate of 31.3%, which makes it selective. It is a public institution in San Luis Obispo, CA enrolling about 21,996 students, with a 85.7% graduation rate.
How much does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo cost?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo costs about $16,665 per year in average net price, what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships. Over four years, including typical borrowing, that totals roughly $85,160. Published sticker cost of attendance is $32,265 per year.
How much do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo student earns $90,768 per year. That is $44,068 more than the $46,700 that the typical worker with only a high-school diploma earns.
Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo worth it? Degree ROI and payback period
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo pays back its roughly $85,160 cost in about 1.9 years, then keeps returning the earnings premium. Over the first decade the degree adds about $355,520 net of cost, a 5.17x return on the money invested. That ranks it #29 of 918 (top 4%) by value added. Its top-tier value is driven mainly by strong graduate earnings and public-school pricing.
Top 10% value
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduation rate and student debt
85.7% of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo students complete their degree, and the median graduate leaves with $18,500 in federal student debt. That debt is about 20% of one year of median graduate earnings.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo by the numbers (vs the typical college)
How California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo compares to the median four-year college in our snapshot. Percentile is its rank among the 918 colleges that report both earnings and cost (higher is better).
| Metric | This school | Median college | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg net price / yr | $16,665 | $20,299 | cheaper than 67% |
| Median earnings (10 yrs) | $90,768 | $54,768 | 96th |
| Graduation rate | 85.7% | 57.0% | 93th |
| Acceptance rate | 31.3% | 75.7% | more selective than 92% |
| 10-yr value added | $355,520 | -$28,192 | 97th |
| ROI multiple (per $1) | 5.17x | 0.73x | 98th |
| Payback period | 1.9 yrs | 8.8 yrs | faster than 97% |
Frequently asked
Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo worth the cost compared to other colleges?
By value added net of cost, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranks #29 of 918 (top 4%) of the 918 four-year colleges we rank, and returns about 5.17x the money invested over a decade.
Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo expensive compared to other colleges?
Its $16,665 average net price is below the $20,299 median for the colleges in this snapshot, making it cheaper than 67% of them.
Do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduates earn more than average?
Median earnings of $90,768 ten years out are above the $54,768 median, higher than 96% of the colleges here.
How hard is it to get into California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo compared to other colleges?
Its 31.3% acceptance rate is below the 75.7% median, making it more selective than 92% of the colleges in the snapshot.
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