A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at Cal Poly are mainly White with a smaller Hispanic population. The school has high racial diversity. 43% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
57%
|
| Black |
1%
|
| Hispanic |
16%
|
| Asian |
12%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
7%
|
| International |
2%
|
| Race Unknown |
5%
|
There are 7% more male students than female students enrolled at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo with a gender ratio of 2% men to 2% women. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Cal Poly has a significantly lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is not inclusive of females.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
2%
|
| Women |
2%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
478
|
| Women |
448
|
Cal Poly serves a very low number of students outside of California, with 86 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
86%
|
| Out of State |
14%
|
| Foreign |
1%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
20% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 3.3% |
| Part time Undergrads | 3.6% |
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