San Luis Obispo, CA · Private University
Is Cal Poly SLO Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$90,768
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$11,075
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$30,995
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$123,980
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
2.93x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
2.2 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
85.2%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$18,500
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$15,624
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduates earn $45,768 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranked by graduate earnings
139 graduates
146 graduates
70 graduates
104 graduates
124 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer Engineering: $122,307) and the lowest (Nutrition Sciences: $22,675) is $99,632/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Computer EngineeringBest ROI | $122,307 | 4.0x |
| Computer Science(1yr data) | $111,141 | 3.6x |
| Industrial Engineering | $103,886 | 3.4x |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $101,270 | 3.3x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $99,426 | 3.2x |
| Materials Engineering | $98,908 | 3.2x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $97,977 | 3.2x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $97,466 | 3.1x |
| Construction Management(1yr data) | $92,785 | 3.0x |
| Civil Engineering | $91,424 | 3.0x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $85,332 | 2.8x |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $84,785 | 2.7x |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians(1yr data) | $78,938 | 2.5x |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $78,364 | 2.5x |
| Agricultural Engineering | $77,884 | 2.5x |
| Architectural Engineering | $77,591 | 2.5x |
| Economics | $76,499 | 2.5x |
| Agricultural Public Services | $73,829 | 2.4x |
| Food Science and Technology | $73,350 | 2.4x |
| Agricultural Mechanization(1yr data) | $73,053 | 2.4x |
| City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning | $71,455 | 2.3x |
| Political Science and Government | $71,231 | 2.3x |
| Architecture | $70,760 | 2.3x |
| Sociology | $67,872 | 2.2x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $67,430 | 2.2x |
| Forestry | $67,118 | 2.2x |
| Graphic Communications | $67,063 | 2.2x |
| Mathematics | $65,655 | 2.1x |
| Plant Sciences | $64,619 | 2.1x |
| Biology, General | $63,237 | 2.0x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $60,521 | 1.9x |
| Natural Resources Management and Policy | $59,696 | 1.9x |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology(1yr data) | $58,653 | 1.9x |
| Landscape Architecture | $58,474 | 1.9x |
| Agriculture, General | $57,972 | 1.9x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $56,972 | 1.8x |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology(1yr data) | $55,807 | 1.8x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $55,078 | 1.8x |
| Journalism | $54,626 | 1.8x |
| History | $53,071 | 1.7x |
| Animal Sciences | $52,909 | 1.7x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $50,644 | 1.6x |
| Psychology, General | $48,589 | 1.6x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences(1yr data) | $48,489 | 1.6x |
| Social Sciences, Other | $41,749 | 1.4x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $41,707 | 1.4x |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies(1yr data) | $39,157 | 1.3x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness(1yr data) | $30,472 | 1.0x |
| Marine Sciences(1yr data) | $27,337 | 0.9x |
| Nutrition SciencesLowest(1yr data) | $22,675 | 0.7x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $90,768 10 years after starting — $45,768 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 2.2 years — faster than most colleges.
Ready to apply to California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
See your odds of admission based on your GPA and test scores.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.