California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California · Public · 4-year · Small suburb
Overview
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public four-year institution based in San Luis Obispo, California. The campus sits in a small suburban area. Fall 2024 enrollment was 23,069, made up of 22,033 undergraduates and 1,036 graduate students. It is part of California State University.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo offers certificates, bachelor's degrees, and master's degrees across 102 programs. Its largest programs by number of graduates are Business Administration and Management, Mechanical Engineering, and Computer Science. It awarded 5,863 degrees and certificates in 2024-25. One of its programs can be completed entirely online.
96% of full-time first-year students return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio is 19 to 1.
Key figures
23,069
Students enrolled
96%
First-year retention
5,863
Degrees and certificates awarded, 2024-25
102
Programs and majors
19:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
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Delivery modes
CampusOnlineHybrid
Program levels
CertificateBachelorMaster
Programs and majors offered 102
Graduate counts are degrees and certificates awarded in each program between July 2024 and June 2025. Largest fields are listed first.
Retention is for students who started in fall 2023 and returned in fall 2024.
First-year retention, full-time students
96%
First-year retention, part-time students
60%
Student-to-faculty ratio
19:1
Degrees and certificates awarded
Awards conferred between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Bachelor's degrees
5,236
Master's degrees
624
Postbaccalaureate certificates
3
Enrollment
Students, fall 2024
23,069
Undergraduates, fall 2024
22,033
Graduate students, fall 2024
1,036
Full-time, fall 2024
95%
Students over the full 2024-25 year
24,558
Undergraduates, 2024-25
23,408
Graduate students, 2024-25
1,150
Full-time, 2024-25
94%
Size category
20,000 students or more
Student body
Share of all students enrolled during 2024-25. Small groups can round to zero and are not listed.
Women
51%
Men
49%
White
48%
Hispanic or Latino
25%
Black or African American
1%
Asian
14%
Two or more races
8%
International (U.S. nonresident)
1%
Race or ethnicity unknown
3%
Online and flexible learning
Distance education in 2024-25.
Programs that can be completed fully online
1
Programs with a fully online option
1
Online graduate programs
Yes
Students studying fully online
1%
Students taking some online courses
73%
Campus and services
Setting
Small suburb
Academic calendar
Quarter
Part of
California State University
Carnegie classification
Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Research designation
Research Colleges and Universities
Athletic association
NCAA
Athletic conference
Big Sky Conference; Big West Conference
President
Jeffrey D. Armstrong
Services and opportunities
Study abroad, ROTC, Undergraduate research, Teacher certification, Academic and career counseling, Student employment services, Job placement for graduates, On-campus day care, Accepts AP credit, Credit for life experience
For veterans and service members
Credit for military training, Dedicated veterans contact, Student veteran organization