CollegeCalcAI
SelectiveUpdated for the 2025-2026 cycle

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo acceptance rate and admissions profile

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a public university in California with a 28% acceptance rate, which makes it selective. Here is what it looks for, where it sits among California schools, and how to estimate your own odds with CollegeCalcAI.

Acceptance rate
28%
Selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1420
of admitted students
Type
Public
California
Selectivity in state
#11
of 61 in CA
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What Cal Poly San Luis Obispo looks for

What Cal Poly San Luis Obispo weighs most heavily in its admissions review, modeled from its selectivity and profile.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Important
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Important
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Important
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Important
First-generation status
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
State residency
Very important
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered

SAT score positioning at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400In the competitive admitted range
1300Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1200Well below the admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range

How Cal Poly San Luis Obispo compares in California

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo ranks #11 most selective of 61 schools in California in our database.

California Institute of Technology
3%acceptance · CA
Stanford University
4%acceptance · CA
Pomona College
7%acceptance · CA
UCLA
9%acceptance · CA
Claremont McKenna College
9%acceptance · CA
University of California, Berkeley
11%acceptance · CA
University of Southern California
12%acceptance · CA
UC Irvine
21%acceptance · CA
See all California schools →

Similar to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

UC Santa Barbara
26%acceptance · CA
University of Texas at Austin
31%acceptance · TX
Florida State University
25%acceptance · FL
UC San Diego
24%acceptance · CA
William & Mary
33%acceptance · VA
Cal Poly Pomona
33%acceptance · CA

Frequently asked questions

How hard is it to get into Cal Poly San Luis Obispo?

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has a 28% acceptance rate, which makes it selective — it admits a minority of applicants. Admission depends on how your full profile compares to its admitted students, not on scores alone.

What SAT score do you need for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo?

There is no hard cutoff, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1420. A score at or above the admitted range strengthens your application; CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds.

What does Cal Poly San Luis Obispo value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic gpa, state residency most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

What are my chances of getting into Cal Poly San Luis Obispo?

Your chances depend on your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities together. Use the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance estimate for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in a few minutes, no account required.

Want the deeper guide? Read our full Cal Poly San Luis Obispo chances guide →

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.