California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
A strong choice. It ranks 68 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 89.3 out of 100.
These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.
Student reviews are coming soon
We are rebuilding how students share their experiences, so for now this page shows only the federal numbers and our written summaries. Check back soon.
Why it is good
- 87% of students graduate, better than 93% of four-year colleges.
- It beats expectations: it graduates 20 points more students than is typical for a college enrolling the same share of low-income students (87% against an expected 67%; the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about 16 points).
- Students stay: 96% of first-year students return for a second year, better than 93% of four-year colleges.
- Strong pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $96,304, higher than 95% of four-year colleges.
- Earnings beat expectations by about $25,886 a year for a college with its student mix (the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about $15,000).
- Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $16,500 in federal loans against earnings of $96,304.
Why it is bad
Nothing stands out as clearly worse than similar colleges.
The numbers
What these figures measure
Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.
Programs and early earnings
Bachelor's degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 689 | $64,328 | $15,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 278 | $74,038 | $17,000 |
| Computer Science | 202 | n/a | $15,000 |
| Biology, General | 163 | $38,469 | $18,576 |
| Animal Sciences | 159 | $32,711 | $15,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 159 | $79,647 | $20,315 |
| Construction Management | 150 | n/a | $18,399 |
| Civil Engineering | 148 | $72,645 | $16,667 |
| Psychology, General | 135 | $31,673 | $12,000 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | 129 | $40,281 | $15,083 |
| Computer Engineering | 129 | $93,964 | $17,178 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 126 | $57,149 | $14,167 |
Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.
Students and reviews
Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Student reviews and questions are coming soon to this site. In the meantime, other sources:
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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.