Cal Poly Admission Requirements
Chances of getting into California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Exceptional | |
| Applicant Competition | High |
How hard is it to get into Cal Poly and can I get accepted? The school has a 30% acceptance rate ranking it #16 in California for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 16,491 out of 54,663 applicants were admitted making Cal Poly a highly competitive school to get into with a lesser chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants. Academically, it has extremely high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 18 percent. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students. Only 27% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.
Can you get in?
Find out which students are getting accepted at Cal Poly, which are not, and how your GPA, SAT, or ACT scores compare.
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Cal Poly SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
Applicants Submitting SAT
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 620 |
| SAT Math 25th | 620 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1240 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 700 |
| SAT Math 75th | 730 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1430 |
| Average SAT Score | 1340 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo?
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo typically requires applicants to be in the top 19 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1240 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1140. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1340 out of 1600. The school ranks #14 in California for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 75 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2018 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1430 and Above | Good | >42% |
| 1335 to 1430 | Avg + | 30%-42% |
| 1240 to 1335 | Avg - | 20%-30% |
| 1145 to 1240 | Reach | 13%-20% |
| Less than 1145 | Low | <13% |
Cal Poly ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
Applicants Submitting ACT
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 26 |
| ACT Math 25th | 26 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 26 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 34 |
| ACT Math 75th | 31 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 32 |
| Average ACT Score | 29 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Cal Poly?
Admission data indicates that Cal Poly regularly accepts students with ACT's of 26 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 18 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 23 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 29 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 32 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #14 in California for highest average ACT composite score. 57 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2018 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 32 and Above | Good | >42% |
| 29 to 32 | Avg + | 30%-42% |
| 26 to 29 | Avg - | 20%-30% |
| 23 to 26 | Reach | 13%-20% |
| Less than 23 | Low | <13% |
Explore California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
Typical High School Grades
You will need exceptionally good grades to get into California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo was 3.87 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #12 in California for highest average GPA. Even with a competitive GPA, admission to Cal Poly will be challenging as the school denies more applicants than it admits.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75+ | 65% | Good |
| 3.50 to 3.75 | 20% | Avg - |
| 3.25 to 3.50 | 10% | Reach |
| 3.00 to 3.25 | 4% | Reach |
| 2.75 to 3.00 | 1% | Reach |
| 2.50 to 2.75 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.25 to 2.50 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.00 to 2.25 | N/A% | Low |
GPA Data Source, Wintergreen Orchard House
High School Class Rank
83% of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo freshman were in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 49% |
| Top 25% of class | 83% |
| Top 50% of class | 98% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 2% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 26,238 | 28,425 | 54,663 |
| Accepted | 9,192 | 7,299 | 16,491 |
| Acceptance Rate | 35% | 26% | 30% |
| Enrolled | 2,250 | 2,148 | 4,398 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 24% | 29% | 27% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2020 has passed. Applications were due on Nov 30, 2019.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Recommended |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Neither required nor recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Neither required nor recommended |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Consider
| Subject | Percent of Class |
|---|---|
| C |
University of California Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, California |
| C |
University of California Santa CruzSanta Cruz, California |
| C |
University of California IrvineIrvine, California |
| C |
University of California DavisDavis, California |
| N |
New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologySocorro, New Mexico |
| W |
University of Washington Seattle CampusSeattle, Washington |
| C |
Colorado School of MinesGolden, Colorado |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=110422 IPEDS survey data for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo.
FAQs
Does California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo prefer SAT or ACT?
75% of students submit their SAT scores to Cal Poly. 57% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo?
30% of those who apply are granted admission to Cal Poly. Admission competition is high and the college has exceptional admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1240 and 1430. 75% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 26 and 32. 57% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.
