Chances of getting into California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Acceptance Rate
How hard is it to get into Cal Poly and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at Cal Poly is 38%. It ranks #18 in California and #133 in the nation for lowest rate of acceptance. Cal Poly is a highly competitive school to get into with a lesser chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants. Last year, 20,127 out of 52,371 applicants were admitted.
The school has very high admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 20 percent (SAT 1220/1410 ACT 26/32). California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.99. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class. 24% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
The Cal Poly application fee is $70 and applications are due by Nov 30.
Testing Requirements
You are required to submit admission test scores with your application. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to confirm the most up to date testing requirements.
Cal Poly SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 610 |
| SAT Math 25th | 610 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1220 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 690 |
| SAT Math 75th | 720 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1410 |
| Average SAT Score | 1320
|
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 prefers applicants to be in the top 22 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1220 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 1120. The average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1320 out of 1600. Cal Poly ranks #14 in California and #108 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 75 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Find other colleges with similar SAT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
Cal Poly ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 25 |
| 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 #13 in California and #100 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score. 57 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo.
Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
Explore California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo?
Applicants require exceptionally good grades to get into Cal Poly. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo was 3.99 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #5 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.
Explore more colleges with similar GPA requirements
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2021
Other Colleges to Consider
High School Class Rank
55% of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 55% |
| Top 25% of class | 86% |
| Top 50% of class | 99% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 25,732 | 26,639 | 52,371 |
| Accepted | 10,935 | 9,192 | 20,127 |
| Acceptance Rate | 42% | 35% | 38% |
| Enrolled | 2,375 | 2,414 | 4,789 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 22% | 26% | 24% |
Fall 2022 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2022 has passed. Applications were due on Nov 30, 2022.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is $70.
Application 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 | Required |
| 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 |
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?
38% of those who apply are granted admission to Cal Poly. Admission competition is high and the college has very high 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 1220 and 1410. 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.