Cal Poly San Luis Obispo: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) is a public university with an acceptance rate of 28%. Cal Poly is the most selective of the California State universities, and successful applicants typically have grades and standardized test scores that are significantly above average.

Considering applying to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Cal Poly had an acceptance rate of 28%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 28 were admitted, making Cal Poly's admissions process very competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo requires all applicants to submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 78% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of Cal Poly's admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Cal Poly scored between 620 and 700, while 25% scored below 620 and 25% scored above 700. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 620 and 740, while 25% scored below 620 and 25% scored above 740. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1440 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at Cal Poly.

Requirements

Cal Poly does not require the SAT writing section. Note that Cal Poly participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. SAT Subject test scores are not required, but if the score meets a benchmark, it may be used to fulfill certain core course requirements.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Cal Poly requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 48% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of Cal Poly's admitted students fall within the top 18% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo received a composite ACT score between 26 and 32, while 25% scored above 32 and 25% scored below 26.

Requirements

Note that Cal Poly participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all ACT test dates. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo does not require the ACT writing section.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA for incoming Cal Poly freshmen was 3.99, and over 82% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.75 and above. This data suggests that most successful applicants to Cal Poly have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which accepts just over one-quarter of applicants, is a selective state school. In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. As the data shows, the majority of students who got into Cal Poly had at least a B+ average, an SAT score (ERW+M) above 1100, and an ACT composite score of 22 or higher. Chances of admission improve as those numbers go up. Realize that in the middle of the graph there's a lot of red hidden behind the green and blue. Some students who have grades and scores that are on target for Cal Poly still get rejected.

What makes the difference between an acceptance and a rejection? Unlike the University of California System, the California State University admission process is not holistic. Except for EOP (Educational Opportunity Program) students, applicants do not need to submit letters of recommendation or an application essay. Instead, admissions are based primarily on GPA and test scores. Cal Poly wants to see strong grades in the most challenging classes available—Advanced Placement, IB, Honors, and dual enrollment classes— the more rigorous your high school record, the better. Students who have taken more science and math than Cal Poly requires have a better chance at admission.

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Undergraduate Admissions Office.