How much does it cost to attend?
In State California Resident Sticker Price
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $5,742 |
| Other Fees | $5,333 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,089 |
| Room and Board | $17,220 |
| Other Expenses Budget | $2,937 |
Out of State Resident Sticker Price
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $17,622 |
| Other Fees | $5,333 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,089 |
| Room and Board | $17,220 |
| Other Expenses Budget | $2,937 |
In-State Tuition
In-state tuition at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo for undergraduate students residing in California is $5,742. Room and board charges total $17,220 per year. Students will also need to budget for books and supplies, which typically amount to $1,089 annually. Other administrative or academic fees are $5,333 for the year. Additionally, students should plan an estimated $2,937 for other miscellaneous expenses throughout the year. In sum, residents attending California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo full time should expect a total annual cost of $32,321.
Out-of-State Tuition
Undergraduate tuition at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is $17,622 for out-of-state students. Additionally, out-of-state students are charged $17,220 for room and board, $1,089 for textbooks and educational resources, plus fees of $5,333. Students are advised to budget $2,937 for other expenses. When these costs are combined, annual out-of-state charges total $44,201. This figure is 36.8% higher than what California residents pay.
Housing Costs
On campus room and board is provided by the school at a cost of $17,220 per academic year. Students electing to live off campus elsewhere in San Luis Obispo should budget at least this amount.
Books and Supplies
The estimated annual cost for books and educational supplies is $1,089.
Other Living Expenses
If living on-campus, students should budget for $2,937 in additional living expenses. Off-campus students should budget for $2,937 in other miscellaneous living expenses.
All price data is sourced from the 2023/2024 U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics survey.
Net Price
The average reported annual net price for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo for students receiving grants or scholarship aid was $16,888* in 2019/2020. Net price includes tuition and required fees, books and supplies, and average cost for room and board and other expenses.
Average Net Price 2022/2023
Below is the average net price by student family income.
| Family Income | Net Price Paid |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $6,476 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $6,904 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $11,372 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $18,032 |
| $110,000+ | $26,920 |
The net price provides a more realistic estimate of the true cost of attending California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, once common grants and scholarships have been taken into account. It's important to note that your net price will fluctuate based on factors such as family income, assets and individual financial need. Net price is the out-of-pocket total cost that students end up paying or financing though student loans.
*Reported Average Annual Net Price for students receiving grant or scholarship aid reported to the U.S. Department of Education's Academic Year 2022/2023 IPEDS Survey. Financial aid is only available to those who qualify. Consult this school's net price calculator for further understanding of your potential net price.
Note that for colleges with no reported on-campus room and board, the average net price has been increased to account for living expenses. This number may not only reflect the net price paid to the school for tuition.
Financial Aid
48% of full-time undergrad California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo received financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, fellowships from the institution or from Federal, State or local government agencies. This aid averaged $12,707 per student during the 2019/2020 school year. Grant and scholarship aid does not need to be paid back.
Pell Grants
20 percent of students received aid in the form of Pell Grants from the U.S. Federal Government. The average Pell Grant awarded for 2019/2020 was $5,840. To apply for a Pell Grant to attend California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, the first step is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Student Loans
28% of students received Federal Student Loans averaging $5,069 and 2% of undergrads took out private student loans averaging $18,998.
| Type | Avg./Student | Students Receiving |
|---|---|---|
| Total Grant and Scholarship Aid | $12,707 | 48% |
| Institutional Grants and Scholarships | $7,705 | 41% |
| Pell Grants | $5,840 | 20% |
| Other Federal Grants | $517 | 19% |
| State and Local Grants | $4,360 | 37% |
| Federal Student Loans | $5,069 | 28% |
| Other Student Loans | $18,998 | 2% |
Financial Aid Mix - $32,321 In-State Total Cost
CollegeSimply has modeled example payment coverage for the annual in-state tuition and living expenses of $32,321. Breakdown is based on average grant aid and federal loan aid which will vary based on your family income.
Grants and Scholarships
43% - $12,707Money granted to you by the U.S. Department of Education, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo or other organizations. These are not loans and do not need to be repaid.
Federal Student Loans
17% - $5,069Low interest student loans funded by the U.S. Department of Education. This amount will need to be repaid.
Out of Pocket Cost
40% - $11,608Covered by family savings, work or private student loans which you will have to repay.
Student Loans
To gauge a more realistic picture of what it really could cost you out of pocket to go to California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, we've modeled a ten year student loan with an original principal value of $67,552. The loan balance of $67,552 is a four year multiple of the $16,888 average net price. This is a estimate of what you could owe upon graduation if you were to qualify for average financial aid and what a degree really may cost. Should you not qualify for financial aid, you may owe significantly more when you graduate. Based on these assumptions, a monthly repayment of $768 could be required to pay off your student loan. The total of all payments including interest would sum $92,168.50.
Please note that financial aid is not guaranteed and is only available for qualifying students. Federal Student Loans are not grants and must be repaid with interest. The current Stafford loan interest rate is 6.53%.
| Example Loan | $67,552 |
| Stafford Loan Interest Rate | 6.53% |
| Time to Pay Off Student Loan | 10 years |
| Example Monthly Payment | $768.07 |
| Total Interest Paid | $24,616.50 |
| Sum of All Loan Payments | $92,168.50 |
Student Loan Affordability
In order to afford student loan payments and still meet all your other costs of living, it is recommended not to borrow more than you can pay back using 10% of your monthly income earned after graduation. If you're considering attending California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, should consider if it will be realistic to make the post graduation loan payments based on your expected salary.
Using the 10% of salary threshold, an annual income of $92,168.50 would be needed to afford a $768.07 monthly payment in the example $67,552.00 loan modeled above. This assumes a repayment over 10 years. You can change the terms of this example loan using the student loan calculator below. View statistics about California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo student loan debt and graduate salaries under student outcomes.
Projected 4 Year Degree Price
4 Year Sticker Price
| Year | California Residents | Non Residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $32,321 | $44,201 |
| 2 | $34,583 | $47,295 |
| 3 | $37,004 | $50,606 |
| 4 | $39,595 | $54,148 |
Based on published tuition prices, we estimate the current cost of a 4 year bachelor's degree and living expenses at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo to be $129,284 - assuming graduation in normal time. The estimation assumes a 7% annual increase over the next 4 years which is the national trend.
Credit Hour Cost and Price per Class
| Price Per Credit | 3 Credit Class | 4 Credit Class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Residents | $0 | $0 | $0 | Out of State Residents | $248 | $744 | $992 |
Estimated cost for a class at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo based on published credit hour prices. Note that not all schools allow single class enrollment. These prices should be used for comparison purposes as to how much it may cost to take a class at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo versus other colleges.
Tuition Payment Plans Available
| Tuition Payment Plan | No |
| Prepaid Tuition Plan | No |
| Alternative Tuition Plan | No |
| Guaranteed Tuition Plan | No |
Tuition History
Historical in-state and out-of-state tuition and price increases for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo.
| Year | In-State | Out-of-state | Annual Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $5,742 | $17,622 | 0% |
| 2022 | $5,742 | $17,622 | 0% |
| 2021 | $5,742 | $17,622 | 0% |
| 2020 | $5,742 | $17,622 | 0% |
| 2019 | $5,742 | $17,622 | 0% |
| 2018 | $5,742 | $17,622 | 0% |
| 2017 | $5,742 | $17,622 | 4.9% |
| 2016 | $5,472 | $16,632 | 0% |
| 2015 | $5,472 | $16,632 | 0% |
| 2014 | $5,472 | $16,632 | 0% |
| 2013 | $5,472 | $16,632 | 0% |
| 2012 | $5,472 | $16,632 | 0% |
| 2010 | $6,498 | $17,658 | 28.9% |
| 2009 | $5,043 | $15,213 | 7.5% |
| 2008 | $4,689 | $14,859 | 7.8% |
| 2007 | $4,349 | $14,519 | 2.4% |
| 2006 | $4,245 | $14,415 | 6.8% |
| 2005 | $3,974 | $14,144 | 13.3% |
| 2004 | $3,508 | $11,460 | 23.9% |
| 2003 | $2,832 | $10,878 | 30.6% |
| 2002 | $2,169 | $9,205 | 1.9% |
| 2001 | $2,129 | $9,197 | 0% |
| 2000 | $2,129 | $9,509 | -3.4% |
| 1999 | $2,204 | $9,584 | -1.1% |
| 1998 | $2,228 | $9,608 | 15.1% |
| 1997 | $1,935 | $9,315 | 2.3% |
| 1996 | $1,891 | $9,271 | 2.1% |
| 1995 | $1,853 | $9,233 | 10.7% |
| 1994 | $1,674 | $9,054 | 3.6% |
| 1993 | $1,616 | $7,688 | 72.6% |
| 1992 | $936 | $5,904 | -8.7% |
| 1991 | $1,025 | $6,165 | 7.6% |
| 1990 | $953 | $5,670 | 3% |
| 1989 | $925 | $4,680 | 46.8% |
| 1988 | $630 | $4,352 | -18.6% |
| 1987 | $774 | $1,902 |
Is it Worth the Cost?
To make a comparative assessment if Cal Poly is worth the price, measures of it's relative value for tuition dollar can be examined. We've calculated an academic national percentile rating of 75.19/100 for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. Considering an average net price paid of $16,888, this leads to an overall value ranking of 62/100. This places the school 164th on our national Best Value Colleges ranking as a provider of a very high value education compared to actual overall price paid.
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Costs for Similar Colleges
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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.
Last updated February 24, 2025