2023 Comprehensive Report on Rankings, Costs, Graduation Rate and More

$20,708

Net Price

33%

Admitted

27%

Enrolled

85%

Graduation Rate

21/1

Student / Faculty

University Detail

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

is a public, four or more years institution with a total student enrollment of 22,231. In 2021, there were 169 psychology and social work graduates. This institution ranks #14 in California and ranks #116 in the U.S. for schools that offer psychology degree programs.

Psychology Degrees Offered

Bachelor, Master

Psychology Graduates

169

Total Enrollment

22,231

Type

Public, Four or more years

Institution Accreditation

WASC Senior College and University Commission

Ranking for California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Let’s be honest. There is no broad-based ranking system that is gong to find the exact right psychology program for you. Use our rankings and more importantly, the underlying data to help uncover a list of psychology programs that might be right for you. Once you narrow down a list of school to consider, the real work begins. In our view, it is best to visit the campus, talk to current students and alumni, interview professors and get a good sense of the school, its administration and philosophy to find the right psychology program for you.

#14

California Rank

Combining ranking factors for 82 schools that offer psychology degrees in California, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranks #14.

#116

U.S. Rank

Combining ranking factors for 1,438 schools that offer psychology degrees in the U.S., California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranks #116.

Psychology Programs Offered

For psychology degrees, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo offers General Psychology at the bachelor level. At the master level, the university offers General Psychology.

In the table below, see the programs offered and the number of graduates in each program.

Psychology Graduates in 2021BSMA
General Psychology15514
Total Graduates15514
US Department of Education

Admission, Enrollment, Graduation

In the fall of 2021, 54,570 students applied to the California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. The university admitted 33% and 27% of those who were admitted also enrolled.

By comparison, the average number of applicants for California universities is 21,883. On average, all California institutions admit 64% and 22% of those who were admitted end up enrolling into the institution.

The percentage of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo students who return after their first year to begin their second year is 95%. Compared to all California four or more years colleges, the percentage is 72%.

The overall graduation rate for California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is 85%, compared to 66% for all California universities, while the number of students who transferred out of the program is 1%.

  • Credits Accepted: Dual enrollment, Credit for life experiences, Advanced placement (AP) credits

Compare Cal Poly SLO to California Four or more years Colleges
Offering Psychology Degrees

Compare admission, acceptance, retention and graduation rates of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo to the average of all California four or more years schools that offer psychology degrees.

Why it Matters

Compare Admission and Enrollment

Low admission rates and high enrollment rates denote not only how selective a school is, but also how in-demand the school is. High graduation rates show the overall success of an institution.

Cal Poly SLO

54,570

Applicants

33%

Percent Admitted

27%

Percent Enrolled

95%

1st Time Student Retention Rate

85%

Graduation Rate

CA Colleges

21,883

Applicants

64%

Percent Admitted

22%

Percent Enrolled

72%

1st Time Student Retention Rate

66%

Graduation Rate

Student & Faculty Information

In the fall of 2021, there were 861 or 68% full-time instructional or research faculty members of all faculty and there were 405 or 32% part-time faculty members employed at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. The number of full-time instructional faculty was 860 or 68%.

Part-time teachers are paid less and cost less, so any organization with a disproportionate number of part-time teachers can invest money in more important areas. However, as part-time teachers, participants can work full-time in their profession and bring experience to the classroom.

Why it Matters

Compare Faculty Numbers

Low student faculty ratios and high full-time instructional percentages indicate that institutions focus their investments in areas that matter most to students.

Cal Poly SLO

21 / 1

Student Faculty Ratio

68%

Percent Full-Time

32%

Percent Part-Time

68%

Percent Full-Time Instructional

CA Colleges

19 / 1

Student Faculty Ratio

40%

Percent Full-Time

60%

Percent Part-Time

39%

Percent Full-Time Instructional

Tuition and Student Expenses

For the 2021-2022 academic year at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo the average cost of undergraduate tuition is $5,742, and the average cost for books and supplies is $909.

For graduate students, the average cost for tuition is $7,176 and the average cost for graduate fees is $4,453.

In the table below, find the average total expenses to attend California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in 2021-2022 including tuition, room, board and living expenses for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Note that the average total expenses do not include financial aid, grants, loans or scholarships. You can find the average financial aid and net price data in the sections below.

Expenses for California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo2021-2022
On Campus Room & Board$16,332
On-Campus Living Expenses$2,244
Total Living Expenses$18,576
Tuition for In-State, Undergraduate$5,742
Books and Supplies, Undergraduate$909
Total Undergraduate Expenses$25,227
In-State, Graduate Tuition$7,176
In-State, Graduate Fees$4,453
Total Graduate Expenses$11,629
US Department of Education

Net Price

Average Net Price

The average net price to attend California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $20,708. Average net price is calculated by adding tuition, room, board, living costs, books, supplies together and then subtracting the average financial (grants, scholarships and loans) for federal financial aid recipients.

In other words, the average net price is the average amount students pay to attend this university for one year.

Average net price is calculated from the most recent data supplied by each institution to the US Department of Education and is found by subtracting the average amount of federal, state/local government, or institutional grant or scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. The total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies, and the weighted average for room and board and other expenses.

Net Price by Family Income

Depending on the federal, state, or institutional grant aid available, the table below shows the average amount students pay to attend California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo presented by family income bracket.

Students may pay more or less depending on their individual circumstances; however, these are the average costs as tracked by the university and reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Average Net Price by Income2020-20212021-2022
$0 – $30,000$12,173$11,885
$30,001 – $48,000$13,194$12,855
$48,001 – $75,000$17,340$17,778
$75,001 – $110,000$22,744$22,753
$110,001 and more$27,740$27,750
US Department of Education

Compare California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo to all California universitas that offer psychology degrees for the cost to attend, average financial aid, percent of students receiving aid and the average net price to attend.

For program ranking, we see a lower overall cost of tuition and cost of living expenses minus the average financial aid a student may receive as the ranking factor student may want to consider.

Why it Matters

Compare Average Cost to Attend and Net Price

Low student faculty ratios and high full-time instructional professors indicates to us institutions that focus their investments in areas that matter most: the education of students by the best instructors possible.

Cal Poly SLO

$25,227

Cost to Attend

$6,821

Average Financial Aid

65%

Percent Receiving Aid

$20,708

Net Price

CA Colleges

$33,186

Cost to Attend

$9,615

Average Financial Aid

80%

Percent Receiving Aid

$14,526

Average Net Price

Financial Aid

The number of beginning students who enter postsecondary education for the first time and receive financial aid is 3,094 or 65%.

The number of undergraduate students who receive a grant or scholarship is 11,203 and the average amount of their grant or scholarship is $6,821.

All Undergraduate Students

Type of Aid# Receiving AidAverage Aid Received
Grant or Scholarship Aid11,203$6,821
Pell Grants3,492$4,796
Federal Student Loans4,882$6,034
US Department of Education

Below, compare the financial aid students receive at the California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo to all schools across the United States that offer psychology degrees.

We see higher percentages of those receiving aid and the percent that aid covers the net price of education as an indicator of the strength of the institution.

Why it Matters

Compare Financial Aid

Financial Aid can make the difference between being able to afford college or being priced out of college. Many students may find college far more affordable than they could imagine, when accounting for the various kinds of financial aid available.

Cal Poly SLO

11,203

Grant or Scholarship Aid

57%

Grants or Scholarships

3,492

Number of Pell Grants

18%

Pell Grants

4,882

Federal Student Loans

25%

Federal Student Loans

CA Colleges

6,293

Grant or Scholarship Aid

60%

Grants or Scholarships

3,062

Number of Pell Grants

29%

Pell Grants

1,114

Federal Student Loans

11%

Federal Student Loans

See Additional Psychology Schools for California.

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